☕ English "Cream Tea" Tasting Party

You are cordially invited to an authentic English cream tea tasting party! "Cream tea" does NOT mean putting cream in your tea; it means putting clotted cream on a scone with jam, while drinking a cup of tea. Ordering a "cream tea" in England is basically the snack version of their full afternoon tea service. You get a plate with one or two plain scones, a side of clotted cream, jam, and a pot of tea (like our event photo).

This will also be a tea tasting party for everyone to bring their own teas to share, like a tea "show & tell". It will be fun to taste each other's favorite flavors and brands! Each person will brew their own cup, so you don't have to bring enough for everyone to try every flavor. And you don't have to bring any tea at all; I've got plenty for everyone (see list below)!

While this Meetup has tried many afternoon tea services in Tampa, none have served authentic clotted cream, which is made in Devin or Cornwall, England. Most places here have served whipped cream, which is not at all the same thing! But I found real Devin clotted cream imported from England is sold in Tampa, so I'm going to prepare an authentic English cream tea for us. I've tried many in England and often make it at home for myself, so I know mine tastes authentic!

"Clotted" might sound gross, but it is smooth and decadent! It tastes and looks like a cross between butter and whipped cream. Clotted cream pairs perfectly with strawberry jam and lemon curd because it creates the flavor of strawberries and cream, or a lemon version of a key lime pie. Honey and clotted cream is another classic combo, named "thunder & lightning" for the cream as the cloud and the honey drizzle as the yellow lightning bolt. There is an ongoing debate in England about whether it is correct to put the cream on your scone on first (Devon way) or the jam first (Cornish way)— see Photos section for explainer.

🌸 VENUE:
We will dine outside at umbrella tables surrounded by the mangroves and palms around my apartment community pool area. Nearby is an outdoor covered kitchen with electric outlets to brew our tea and keep food warm. If it is raining, we will dine under the roof of the kitchen area, which has counters with built-in stools. Bathrooms are nearby. Please note the "how to find us" instructions on this page. The map pin shows where to park on the left side of the gym building.

🥮 INCLUDED FOOD MENU:

• 4 mini scones per person (homemade by your organizer with wheat flour, butter, and cow's milk)
• Real Devon clotted cream from England
• Strawberry jam (organic)
• Lemon curd (a sweet, bright lemon spread that contains eggs and milk)
• Pure Manuka honey (UMF 10+) from New Zealand
• Butter, salted and unsalted
• Sugar packets (Splenda, Stevia in the Raw, Domino white sugar, Sweet'N Lo, Equal)
• Heavy whipping cream, organic (in case you do want to put cream in your tea!)
• Tea (see my list below)

For Dietary Restrictions: If you cannot eat the ingredients listed above or prefer some other variation of them, please bring your favorite substitute. When you RSVP, you will be asked your scone preference, so I can make the correct amount.

☕ TEAS I'LL BRING:
(with links where I buy them; some are affiliate links)

• Yorkshire Gold black tea by Taylors of Harrogate: the #1 selling black tea brand in the U.K., and my daily cup! The box says, "By appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales".
• Earl Greyer black tea by The Republic of Tea: the most flavorful Earl Grey I've found in the US.
• Blackberry Sage black tea by The Republic of Tea: one of the most uniquely delicious teas I've ever had! Smooth, fruity, and complex.
• Ginger Peach black tea by The Republic of Tea: the most flavorful peach tea that's easy to find in stores.
• Imperial Jasmine Dragon Pearls green tea by Tealyra: a smooth mouthfeel and strong jasmine flavor comes from these tiny rolled balls, or "pearls", that expand in hot water.
• Genmaicha green tea by Harney & Sons: tastes like toasted popcorn and green tea. Very similar to the complimentary green tea served in many restaurants in Japan.
• Chamomile herbal tea by Harney & Sons: caffeine free with a hint of green apple scent.
• Strawberry Green green tea by Little Village Tea: fruity green tea with dried strawberries and papayas.
• Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha green tea by The Republic of Tea: grassy, Earthy, and smooth. I will also bring the Japanese tools to make it properly.

If you have the same teas, please still bring them because who knows if I'll have enough if everyone wants the same flavor!

🫖 NON-FOOD ITEMS I'll BRING:

• My filtered water pitcher, so we can brew every cup with clean, flavorless water— the way tea should be made!
• Two electric kettles, one of which has preset temperatures, so we can brew the unique teas to their correct temperature! (If you can bring an electric kettle to help us boil more water faster, please comment below.)
• 1 borosilicate glass carafe to brew multiple cups at once, if needed
• 3 loose leaf tea strainer balls. If you can bring more, please comment below.
• Teaspoons, knives
• Paper plates
• Matcha tea making set
• Electric warming mat to keep scones and other food warm.
• 4 serving placemats
• Paper towels/ napkins

👜 WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING:

• Your own tea drinking vessel (tea cup, coffee mug, or insulated mug). Note we will be outside with concrete counters and concrete floors, so you might want to leave your good china at home.
• Optional: Teas you're willing to share (looseleaf or bags).
• Optional: Scone toppings or other afternoon tea finger foods to share.
• Optional: cold beverage/ water bottle for yourself.
• Optional: extension cord, power strip, plug splitter
• If you can't eat something on the Food Menu above, please bring your favorite substitute.
• If you own an electric kettle, loose leaf tea strainers, or teapot, please comment below and bring it.

👗👕 ATTIRE:
We encourage dressing up in "English garden party", "Kentucky Derby", or "country club" attire in light colors or florals. But you can wear whatever you want.

• Ladies consider: sundress or skirt, polo shirt or blouse, fancy hat or fascinator, lace gloves.
• Gentlemen consider: polo shirt, beach button-up shirt, Hawaiian shirt, linen clothes, khakis.

💸 COST TO BE PAID WHEN YOU RSVP:
As you can see, there are a lot of items I need to buy and time I need to spend to making things for this event. $18 per person will cover only the hard expenses. If you feel the experience is worth more, tips would be appreciated! Please use Zelle to send $18 to Danielle@DGdesign.biz when you RSVP. If you don't pay within 1 day of RSVPing, your RSVPs will be moved to the Declined list. (You can always try again.) Please PM Danielle if for some reason Zelle is not an option for you.

If you cancel before RSVPs close, you will get a full refund. There will be no refunds after RSVPs close, unless the organizer cancels the event for an emergency.

❗ IMPORTANT ❗: To allow time to buy and prepare the food, RSVPs close 48 hours before this event, so please make any changes before then. No-shows and cancellations after RSVPs close will be removed from this Meetup.