What to Buy for a High Tea

A high tea needs more than tea and cakes. Plan the food, drinks, serving pieces and tableware together so guests can eat comfortably and everything can be served at the right temperature. For each guest, allow three to four savoury bites, two to three sweet items and several cups of tea. Check dietary requirements before shopping, and buy chilled ingredients close enough to the event that they stay fresh.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
Buffet tablesqty 2
Service table
Clothes rail

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 50
Cake platesqty 50
Teacupsqty 50
Tea saucersqty 50
Teapotsqty 8
Milk jugsqty 6
Sugar bowlsqty 6
Cake forksqty 50
Teaspoonsqty 50
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8
Tiered traysqty 8
Serving plattersqty 12
Water glassesqty 50
Carafesqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Baking traysqty 4
Oven mittsqty 2

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 3
Hot platesqty 3
Coolersqty 3

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Napkin holdersqty 6
Flower arrangementsqty 6
Menusqty 45
Name badgesqty 45
Table numbersqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Broom and dustpanqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Black bread - 4 loaves
- White sandwich bread - 4 loaves
- Whole wheat sandwich bread - 4 loaves
- Mini bake-off rolls - 60 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Smoked chicken breast - 1 kilogram
- Smoked salmon - 750 grams
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Arugula - 4 bags
- Cherry tomatoes - 1,5 kilograms
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Herb cream cheese - 3 tubs
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Scones - 50 pieces
- Clotted cream - 1,5 kilogram
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Lemon curd - 2 jars
- Mini muffins - 50 pieces
- Mini brownies - 50 pieces
- Mini apple pies - 50 pieces
- Petit fours - 50 pieces
- Butter cookies - 2 kilograms
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Blueberries - 1 kilogram
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Lemons - 1 kilogram
- Black tea - 4 boxes
- Herbal tea - 3 boxes
- Green tea - 2 boxes
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Honey - 2 jars
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Still mineral water - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Lemonade - 3 liter
- Ice cubes - 5 kilogram
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Nitrile gloves - 2 boxes

Tips

Allow 3–4 savoury bites and 2–3 sweet items per guest. Include sandwiches, scones, fruit and cakes rather than relying on one large dish.
Plan 2–3 cups of tea per person for the first hour, then add 1 cup per guest for each extra hour. Keep at least two kettles or a way to boil water continuously if the group is large.
Count one dinner plate, one cake plate, one teacup, one saucer, one teaspoon and one cake fork per guest, plus 10% extra for breakages or replacements.
Prepare sandwiches and cut fruit on the day, then keep them chilled until serving. Bake scones as close to serving time as possible so they do not dry out.
Check that you have enough tiered trays, serving platters, tongs and spoons before shopping. These are often forgotten because they are not part of the food order, but guests need them as soon as the buffet opens.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a high tea per person?: Plan 3–4 savoury bites, 2–3 sweet items and 1–2 scones per person. Add around 10% extra if the high tea replaces lunch or dinner.
How much tea should I buy for a high tea?: Allow 2–3 cups per guest for the first hour and 1 additional cup per guest for every extra hour. For 20 guests, that means roughly 60 cups in the first hour.
How many plates and teacups do I need for a high tea?: Buy or hire one dinner plate, one cake plate, one teacup, one saucer, one teaspoon and one cake fork per guest, plus at least 10% spare. For 20 guests, prepare 22 of each item where possible.
When should I buy food for a high tea?: Buy dry goods, tea and tableware up to 1 week ahead. Purchase bread, cream, fruit and other chilled ingredients 1–2 days before, and prepare sandwiches and cut fruit on the day.

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