Agatha Christie invites you to an Autumn Halloween Afternoon Tea Party

Continuing with the series of seasonal and themed Afternoon Teas, Mary Kate has created  a bewitching Autumn Hallowe’en Afternoon Tea Party

The sun is gleaming, low through the magnificent trees. The leaves the colour of Autumn, deep russet red, burnt orange, golden yellow, like gold against the background of slate grey skies. Rain is lashing at the windows, quite the perfect foil for roaring fires and amber liquids. Tea with Mary Kate has created the Autumn hallowe’en afternoon Tea menu as a grown up treat. Inspired by one of Agatha Christie’s darkest books, Hallowe’en Party, the theme is not for tales of the macabre, but to light a candle to remember the dead.

Gorgeous Vintage China Tea Cups – an ideal way to make the Hallowe’en tea party feel a rather special occasion.

I adore this beautiful Vintage Royal Paragon cup. Dated from around 1933, it is beautifully decorated in striking autumnal colours, with leaves that appear almost to have fallen into the saucer.

 

Autumn inspired table decoration

A pumpkin is perfect addition to decorate the table. l love cyclamen at this time of year too, and have planted it in a vintage onion jar, and chosen another lovely autumnal colclough china cup for serving tea. Do light some candles, as the light is amazingly atmospheric, and just perfect to create a sophisticated atmosphere for Hallowe’en.

Autumn Vintage afternoon Tea – Idea’s for a Hallowe’en Party table decoration

Tie Hallowe’en ribbons to the chairs.

I adore these orange spider web design from Crafty ribbon a great way to enhance the Halloween theme.

Nothing Less than Splendid  Autumn Hallowe’en Tea Menu

Leaves falling like natures own confetti to carpet the green grass, with apples and pumpkins must have seasonal ingredients,  and not to forget, warming, strong tea, these are the perfect elements of an Autumn Hallowe’en Afternoon Tea Party

Autumn Hallowe’en Afternoon Tea Party Menu

A selection of Sandwiches

Cheddar Cheese on white bread with homemade chutney

Hot smoked Salmon on brown bread with Damson cheese

with warming Pumpkin soup

Sweets

Cup of Tea Cake

Baked Apples with plump sultana’s and raisins, drizzled with maple syrup

Tea cups filled with divine chocolate mousse

Tea

Lost Malawi – A single estate  black tea from Rare Tea Company – rich and with a depth of flavour

Chai – An aromatic flavoursome black tea blended with cloves and spices, lovely with a spoon full of honey

Both are best drunk with milk

Handy hints and tips for the menu

• The secret ingredient for the pumpkin soup is coconut, it adds just an amazing flavour. Do serve in tea cups, in keeping with the theme of a hallowe’en inspired afternoon tea party. Garnish with fresh parsley, and freshly grated pepper.
• I remember having baked apples on a Saturday night as a wonderful treat. They are super easy, and look gorgeous too, just remember to put them into bake in enough time, and score a line around the cooking apples middle (otherwise they do tend to explode!)

Autumn afternoon tea with a perfect baked apple

• Choose your own favourite cups to serve the gorgeous Chocolate pots

Chocolate tea cups – Ian marbers divine pots au Chocolate

Although Hallowe’en Party is the inspiration for an Autumn Hallowe’en Tea Party, it is undoubtedly one of Agatha Christie’s darkest books.

When Hercule Poirot dear old friend Ariadne Oliver attends a children’s Hallowe’en Party, a young girl boasts of seeing a murder, and she  is later found drowned in the apple bobbing bowl. At Ariadne’s request, Poirot rushes to Woodleigh Common to investigate the murder. The greatest detective in the world has to employ all of his little grey cells to avoid further tragedy.

The witch like and aptly named Mrs Goodbody, is the local gossiping charwoman who likes reading the tea leaves. She tells Poirot there have been a number of suspicious deaths in the village in recent years, which could indeed have ben witnessed. It appears that old curses still haunt the village, a claim supported by the affable gardener, Michael Garfield. While Poirot is busy piecing together the facts, another child is found drowned in a river.

Although the tale is tragic, the characters in the book are richly woven, and cleverly crafted, and as with all of Agatha Christie’s books, it describes a Britain of the past, with her astute observation of character and motive, it is a perfect read for Halloween. Perhaps a copy of the book would be memorable memento of the Autumn Halloween Afternoon Tea Party.

Agatha Christie Writing her plots at Greenway – almost time for tea!