Come Sit in My Tea Room Trivia Quiz

Answer: A basic tea experience with tea, scones, and clotted cream

A cream tea is one of the most basic of tea party types. At a cream tea, you can expect to be served a pot of tea with scones, sometimes butter and jam, and clotted cream. This is one of the most common types of teas, and is offered by most tea houses.

Answer: It depends on the venue and tea

How you dress at a tea really depends on the case. If at a fancy location, as in this imaginary case, fancy should be the rule: a nice dress or suit. However, many tea rooms around England and other countries that serve tea are less formal, and normal nice clothes can be worn. What to wear to a tea isn't a rule, but it's about getting into the mood of the tea and having a social event. Hats are purely optional.

Answer: A tea experience with champagne as well as tea to drink

A sparkling tea is perhaps the most fancy tea experience option. At a sparkling tea, you are served both tea and champagne with your food! Although you will be given a full pot of tea, however, most tea houses that serve sparkling teas will not serve you a full bottle of champagne. You will be given a glass, although refills are sometimes offered.

A sparkling tea is a great way to upgrade your tea experience!

Answer: A pianist playing musical selections

Any entertainment at a tea will depend on the venue, but given that it is a fancy tea at a hotel, out of all the options you are most likely to be entertained by a pianist. Music is a common accompaniment to a formal tea, whether live or recorded. Juggling teacups would certainly not be seen, unless it is done by a server with too many dishes in his/her hands!

Answer: Your tea to drink

Tea, as the most important aspect of your meal, will most likely be served first. Everything else is somewhat secondary at a tea party! Desserts and sandwiches may come at the same time as your tea, but more likely on your server's second trip to your table. You can expect sugar and cream to accompany your tea.

Answer: On a three-plate tiered tray

The most common way of serving a tea, in formal and informal settings, is on a 3-tiered tea or cake tray. Each plate on the tray will contain a different "course", with sandwiches on one, scones on the next, and desserts on the other. These different plates may be placed on the tray in different orders depending on the venue.

The most common way is to eat the food from the bottom tray up; the sandwiches or scones will be on the bottom tray, and the desserts on the top. You should generally begin by eating sandwiches, then scones, then desserts.

Answer: It depends on where you're from

Clotted cream, where the cream tea gets its name, is a fundamental part of teas. It is made when cream is heated then left to slowly cool, forming fluffy clots. At cream teas, there is a feud between a Cornish and a Devon way of eating scones: while in Cornwall the scone is spread first with jam and then with cream, in Devon it is spread with cream first and then jam. Try both ways yourself and see which team you support!

Answer: It's up to you

When it comes to afternoon teas, utensils are purely up to you. The food you're served is usually designed to be finger food, but unwieldy and messy servings mean that you can use utensils if you wish. There is no strict rule about this; just enjoy your food in the easiest way!

Answer: Stuck your pinkie finger out while holding onto your cup

Sticking your pinkie finger out at right angles while holding onto a tea cup and drinking is a classic etiquette myth. It is a mistake to think that this is polite; in fact, it was never a part of traditional English afternoon tea etiquette, and looks a little foolish! You're better off holding the handle of your teacup between your thumb and forefinger, with your pinkie tucked in.

Answer: Treat it as any other restaurant meal and tip your server if the service was good

A tea out is just like any other restaurant meal, so you should treat it as such. If the server was good, attentive, and friendly, and the food was good and timely, you might consider a generous tip. However, if everything was poor and unsatisfactory, you might not leave a tip at all, or at least just a small tip. Tipping amounts are different everywhere; in Ireland and the United Kingdom, tipping amounts are usually around 10 percent; in North America, tipping amounts can reach 15 or even 20 percent. Still, don't cave to pressure - only tip that well if you think it is deserved!