When I am invited to speak at schools, bookstores and libraries I find many people want advice on how to create a memorable teatime at home. A tradition we've read about in literature and seen in the movies can still seem very intimidating. There's the image of an uncomfortable drawing room with ladies in hats and gloves balancing fine china with dainty hands - pinkies up.

In reality, the family teatime was more often at the end of the day when the work was done and the lessons were put away. Parents gathered with their children and an evening meal. And we might look at the intimacy of this lifestyle for ways in which we can recapture an old-fashioned style of intimacy.

So, I try to focus on the experience and not the ambiance or the menu. Keep it simple and keep it comfortable.

• Choose a fun flavored tea.
• Serve something freshly baked.
• Use a teapot and teacups with saucers if you have them. 
• Turn off the TV, other electronics & phones.
• Just talk! Nothing heavy. Light & fun. You don't need to make an announcement.
• Just do it. Say, "Would you like some cookies and tea?"

You may not want to start with the antique or heirloom teapot.

Check your local tea shop. They may carry new ones at very reasonable prices. Thrift Stores and garage sales are excellent sources for mix-and-match cups & saucers.

It's sometimes fun for everyone in the family to have a special cup that only they use. Or it can be fun to switch cups every time. Once your family establishes a tea-time routine, then you may find birthdays and other celebrations an opportunity to give tea themed gifts.

The treat with tea can be as simple as toast and jam or a full-on afternoon of baking scones. Fresh fruit is an excellent snack with a cup of tea.

In the monthly newsletter I write for The Emma Lea Books, there are recipes for special kinds of teas, cookies, breads, desserts and even some main courses. They are all intended to be shared kitchen experiences and a lot of fun.

This isn't the time for solving the problems of the world. But it could be game-time or a combined effort on a jigsaw puzzle. In Emma Lea's Tea With Daddy, she tells her father -

"We can just talk. I can tell you about what's been happening at school. You can tell me about your work or what you did when you were a little boy. You know. Things that matter."

Tea has been known for its health properties for 5000 years. Medical research continues to confirm the many ways in which it is beneficial. The YouTube video below is a humorous introduction to tea's health properties.