The tea experience is less about what you serve and more about the welcome you offer.

One of the many things I love about the experience of tea is how it can be a planned event with all the pretty china and a well thought out menu of scones, savory, sandwiches and sweets, or a simple impromptu knock at my back door and a dear friend is standing there with an open heart ready to share feelings, secrets or just to vent about life in general!

Hosting tea doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. A simple glass of iced water with a lemon wedge or even a tea cup full of apple cider will work if you don’t happen to have tea on hand…. and maybe an easily accessible plate of cookies to just have a little something to nosh on while sipping whatever beverage happens to be the easiest to prepare or reach for. I enjoyed a very relaxing tea experience on a busy street in Napa with a hot cup of tea and an English muffin with preserves - done! It was perfect!

What matters most isn’t what’s on the table — it’s the pause, the presence, and the people you share it with. Tea is about connection, comfort, and making space for one another, no matter how simple the setting.

Tea meets us where we are. It reminds us that hospitality is about intention, not extravagance. Sometimes the simplest cup creates the most meaningful moment.

Here’s your reminder: hosting tea doesn’t have to be fancy.

Tea is an invitation, not a performance. It’s about slowing down, opening your door (and your heart), and sharing a moment — just as you are.

Because tea is less about what you serve and more about the welcome you offer.