We’ve heard it before: “My kid doesn’t like tea.” Luckily they don’t have to miss out on the joys of a tea party. Whether your guests love tea, hate tea, or have never even tried tea, you can still throw a tea party. Don’t know what to serve? We’ve got you.
My kid loves tea
Fabulous! Serve their favorites. After all, a tea party is a celebration. If they’re open to trying something new, add another option and compare them. Try both teas and ask, “What’s your favorite?” Soon you may have a collection of teas for different moods and occasions.
My kid has never tried tea
Understandable. If they’re interested in trying tea, here are some ways to make it fun.
- Choose a caffeine-free tea. Fruit flavors and herbal teas do best with kids. If you already know a flavor they like, start there. Having a second option on hand is advisable, whether that’s another tea or a tea alternative. (We’ll get to that in a minute.)
- Add ice. Cold drinks may be less intimidating to sip from and even more appropriate for the occasion, like summer tea parties or picnics. Any tea can be made iced. Just remember to plan ahead as iced tea takes longer to make than hot tea.
- Create a hands-on experience with loose leaf teas. Place about one teaspoon of each tea in a small bowl. Encourage the kids to look at the leaves, smell them, and even touch them (if you can spare the tea).
- Support them in discovery. Ask questions like “What does it taste like?” and “Which tea do you like best?” Allowing them to say no to something they don’t like can help them stay open to trying new things.
My kid doesn’t like tea and neither do I
No problem. Surprisingly, tea parties don’t need tea. If you’ve decided against the tea part of the tea party, may we suggest some popular alternatives.
- Hot cocoa is perfect for cozy tea parties and the holidays.
- Apple juice conveniently looks like tea but tastes sweeter and isn't hot.
- Lemonade delights most guests and offers more fun options too—like pink.
Tea alternatives can be served from the teapot. Just mix them beforehand.
Recommended teas
Finding your favorite tea is a journey. Start exploring! These are some of our favorites.
Loose leaf teas
- The Tea Spot Strawberry Fields: fruity tea that can be sweetened and served hot or cold
- Republic of Tea Hibiscus Pineapple Lychee Full-Leaf Tea: nice pineapple flavor
- Harney & Sons Pumpkin Spice: sweet and spicy pumpkin tea perfect for chilly weather
Tea bags
- Republic of Tea Natural Hibiscus: great warm or iced with loads of vitamin C
- Traditional Medicinals Peppermint or Chamomile tea: for tummy troubles and relaxing
- Stash berry and fruit teas: delicious fruity flavor
How we came up with these recommendations
Before recommending a tea, we take a few things into consideration.
Caffeine-free
For kids, we recommend caffeine-free fruity or herbal teas. Black tea, oolong tea, green tea, and white tea have caffeine, but you may be able to find decaffeinated varieties.
Loose leaf vs. tea bags
You can purchase tea two ways: loose leaf or tea bags. Loose leaf tea has full tea leaves whereas tea bags may contain either full leaf tea or (more often) tea dust. Tea dust includes fragments of tea leaves.
Full leaf tea has more health benefits and more natural oils, which give it a stronger flavor and richer aroma. Generally, one teaspoon of leaves makes six ounces of tea. It’s easy to make your tea stronger or weaker by adjusting this amount.
Tea bags on the other hand can be removed early or steeped longer than recommended to control the strength of tea. Typically, one tea bag makes six ounces. Tea bags are convenient and easy to use. They work well if guests want to try different teas from what’s in the pot.
Plastic-free tea bags
If you choose to use tea bags, consider the bag itself. Some tea bags are made with PET or nylon and can release microplastics into your tea. Yuck! Opt instead for plastic-free tea bags like those made from paper, wood pulp, or corn starch. Pillow tea bags, without a string or tag also offer a more environmentally friendly option.