We love a good themed tea party and whether you are hosting a women’s tea party, a bridal tea party or a children’s tea party, using a mystery tea theme will add a unique touch. (It will also keep your guests talking for months to come!)

So many mystery themes to choose from:

Over the years we have hosted numerous mystery tea parties, with great success and enjoyment. We love customizing the tea party menu to reflect the “mysterious theme.”  Every theme has a unique twist of its own and whether you choose a seasonal theme such as Fourth of July or Christmas or something with action like a 
Scavenger Hunt or Escape Room or an historical Kidnapped by Pirates, The Luck of the Irish or 1920s Great Gatsby Theme plot line, your guests are sure to have a good time.

One of our favorite things about hosting a mystery tea is the participation and creativity it can release in your guests.

Here’s how it works:

Tea party guests arrive in costume and play a character throughout your tea gathering. You will be surprised at how the shyest member of your group can become the “star of the show.”

It’s true! A good costume and a stiff cup of tea can do wonders.

There are several keys to hosting a successful mystery tea party so please feel free to take notes.

The 5 Keys to Hosting a Mystery Tea Party

1. First off, you have got to get a good mystery kit. (there are a ton of duds out there.) For that reason, we recommend: 
   www.MerriMysteries.com – Downloadable Mystery Party KitsThese unique Do-it-Yourself (DIY) parties are easy to customize but give you step by step instructions which help you have a great time hosting the event. There are versions specifically designed for women which are perfect for your mystery tea party for ladies! Having said that, there are also versions specifically designed for males, and also versions for a mix of both as well as men only. You’ll also find party themes suitable for teens – the options are endless.

Stephane at Merri Mysteries has been creating and writing the mystery party games for 26 years and as a business has helped 40,000 hosts in that time!  So, if you want to host a fun and successful myserty tea party – look no further! You can learn more about Stephanie and her team of Merri Mysteries writers – Narelle, Angela and Philip – over at their website: www.MerriMysteries.com

Recently, we had the chance to take a closer look at two of the brilliant mystery parties from Stephanie’s pen:

“The Luck of the Irish”

and

“Who Stole the Cookies”

The Luck of the Irish is the perfect game for a St Patrick’s Day event, party or anytime! Not a murder (just a mystery) in sight so this is a suitable theme for a genteel ladies tea party or the school classroom or for any other group or community event you can think of. But it could also be a really fun fundraiser. Leprechauns, shamrocks and the Blarney Stone, everyone will enjoy that this tea party mystery theme is full of Irish words and phrases.

Here’s a brief taste of this popular theme party kit:

The King of the Leprechauns Roy Gilroy has had his pot of gold stolen. Who was the devious thief?

• Was it the mischievous leprechaun, Hendo Barrett, sneaking around and popping up here and there?
• The Irish lad, Hurley Burke likes his job but his wages are too poor for him to get a girlfriend – would he steal a pot of gold to find true love?
• Wasn’t the crock of gold hidden well enough in a big oak tree in the woods? Or did someone know where it was?

Don your green outfits and take a step back in time to enjoy this hilarious and fun-filled party theme!

 

 

Kids big and small will love this classic:

Who Stole the Cookies From The Cookie Cupboard? is the answer for anyone hosting Children’s Birthday Tea Party or any tea party or mystery party involving kids.

Flexible mystery party game kit

Who Stole the Cookies is the ideal Kids Mystery Party Game for anywhere between 8 To 104 Guests! Schools, camps, home – it will suit them all! This script suits kids with a reading age/level of 7 and up. Of course, it’s fantastic for adults as well!

Here’s the challenge!

The premise is that overnight, all the characters had slipped out of their books to play in the library. When Mrs Bookworm, the librarian, un-locked the fundraising cookie cupboard this morning she was shocked because – the cupboard was empty. Who could stoop so low? The challenge is to work out – Who Dunnit?

The children all get involved in solving this heinous crime, answering questions that lead them down the path to finding the criminal.

So much more memorable…

I love the idea of a children’s birthday party mystery. Why come up with games, when you can harness a child’s natural dramatic side and love of costumes with a mystery tea? (this is WAY more interesting than pin the tail on the donkey!)

2. You need to follow the instructions carefully! Mystery tea parties are set up so that characters release clues in a certain order. You need to follow the instructions carefully! Mystery tea parties are set up so that characters release clues in a certain order, so as the host, do be sure to become familiar with the details of the kit well before the evening. Start your party promptly so people don’t lose interest and keep the pace flowing. Begin by reading out the “Rules” section at the end of the “Host Guide” and then introduce the suspects. The “Who Did It” details are at the end – don’t share those details with anyone – even the guilty party – so there is no chance of anyone giving the game away!

Hostess instructions are very clear in these kits but to have a successful event be sure you have read through both the step by steps and the script itself. You want to understand the big picture so your guests aren’t confused. Think of yourself as the director and be sure to direct the party.

3. Great food! Mystery Party kits may include menu suggestions and where to find suitable recipes online. You don’t have to follow them but they naturally lend themselves to the setting.  Again! Be sure to read the instructions. Tea party guests will expect wonderful food so don’t let them down. (if your play kit doesn’t include recipes there are a variety of great mystery party food ideas listed on the www.MerriMysteries.com website under ‘Party Tips – Food’.)

Recipes You May Like to Use

Here’s a tasty and traditional recipe that could be served at “The Luck of the Irish”:

IRISH BARMBRACK TEACAKE

A classic Irish teacake with a rich flavor and heavy texture, filled with plumped, tea-soaked dried fruits.

10 to 15 min prep time and 1h 20min cooking time

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons of your favorite black tea (or 4 teabags) – can’t go past an Irish Breakfast Tea!

1&1/3 cups boiling water

375g dried fruit (recommend sultanas, currants and raisins, but you could use anything you have on hand)

1tsp mixed spice

1/2tsp ground cinnamon

¾cup firmly packed brown or dark brown sugar

2 cups self raising flour

1 egg, lightly beaten

Method:

1. Combine the tea (or tea bags) with the boiling water and allow to infuse for 5 minutes – the stronger the better! When the tea is steeped and strong, discard the teabags or strain the tealeaves from the liquid. Put the strained tea in a bowl with all of the dried fruit, then cover and allow to sit for several hours.  We recommend at least 6 hours, or it could be left overnight. The goal is to have the fruit absorb the tea and plump up.
2. Preheat the oven to 360F (320F if fan forced) and grease an 8 Inch x 4 Inch Loaf Pan and line it with baking paper.
3. Combine the flour, sugar, mixed spice and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. There is no need to sift unless you prefer to do so.  Add the soaked fruit mixture and then the egg and stir with a wooden spoon to combine well. Carefully fill the prepared baking pan with the mixture. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes until cooked.  Test for readiness by inserting a skewer into the centre to check that it comes out ‘clean’.
4. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

May be served with butter, but it’s also tasty on its own.

 

Soooo many delicious cookie recipes to choose from!  But here’s a tasty and easy one that could be served at 
“Who Stole the Cookies From The Cookie Cupboard?”:

EASY PEASY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Quick and easy chocolate chip cookies with a classic choc-chip look and a squishy center – you won’t be able to stop at one!

10 to 15 min prep time and about 10 min cooking time

Ingredients:

1 egg (large) ideally at room temperature

½ cup butter at room temperature (equivalent to 1 stick)

¾ cup light or dark brown sugar

1 cup of quality chocolate chips (the nicer they are, the tastier the cookies will be)

Vanilla extract

¼ tsp salt

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour (ideally sifted)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and place baking paper on a cookie tray (a pizza tray will work also!)
2. Cream the butter and sugar until it’s nice and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes)
3. Mix in the egg and vanilla.
4. On a slower mixer speed, add in the flour and salt and mix until just combined.
5. Using a wooden spoon stir in the chocolate chips (don’t eat too many!)
6. Place scoops of the mixture onto the baking tray(s), ideally using a spoon so that the cookies are a regular size. Aim for about 12 cookies from this quantity of mixture.
7. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes until the mixture looks set, but remove before it looks ‘cooked’ so that they don’t overcook and become crispy. They will continue to cook after removing from the oven and we want the centers soft and chewy!
8. Remove from the oven and leave on the baking tray for 5 minutes.
9. Transfer from the baking tray to a cooling rack.

 

 

4. Costumes are optional but encouraged! A hostess can choose to ask her guests to come in costume or if the event is spur of the moment, she can provide a costume box filled with creative hats, gloves, boas and the like. The more involved your guests become, the more fun your party will be.

 

5. Have a camera and takes LOTS of photos. Take pictures of the food, take pictures of your guests in character, take pictures of the criminal and those who solved the case! Post your photos on Facebook, your blog, your website and be sure to submit them to Stephanie as she loves to feature your personal version of one of her many scripts.

Time To Try It!

That’s it! That is all there is to it. Now grab a calendar, pick a date, and order your Mystery Party Kit. You can be hosting your own themed tea event in just a few days.

To order your Mystery Party kit visit www.MerriMysteries.com and start planning!

Tea Party Girl Asks: Which script over at Merri Mysteries looks the most interesting to you?