A Murderous Tale of Tea and Agatha Christie

In the air, there are plots of murder as well as the odd flurry of snow.

Winter is here! It is far too cold to be even contemplating venturing outside, but you’ll hear no cry of complaint from these quarters. What more could I wish for than a Hercule Poirot adventure on the Orient Express. But there is more to Tea with Mary Kate’s Tale of Tea & Agatha Christie, so do join me on an adventure of Agatha Christie inspired idea’s at Christmas.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot in a snowy scene in front of the Orient Express

Read a Agatha Christie Christmas themed Book

Reading is such a distracting, indulgent pleasure, and often one we only make time for at holidays. Choose one of her books with a Christmas theme to keep you in the festive mood or just reread your favourite one!  A few that immediately spring to mind are:

The adventure of the Christmas Pudding

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas

A Christmas Tragedy

And while you are reading your book, a spot of Agatha Christie Inspired Afternoon Tea wouldn’t go amiss

I can think of no more perfect an afternoon than sitting by a roaring fire, sipping freshly brewed leaf tea from a beautiful vintage tea cup, with the most difficult decision being whether to start with a gorgeous sandwich, or go straight for the delicious cakes.

If you are feeling Adventurous, Investigate where you can see one of her plays

I love An Unexpected Guest, marvelously inventive, it keeps you guessing right until the last moment.

Dream of visiting Greenway

Or better still, plot how you are actually going to visit as this gem of a National Trust property is currently shut. It is an amazing place to imagine having afternoon Tea with Agatha Christie. Agatha’s is often quoted  in saying that Greenway “is the loveliest place in the world”, and it is very hard to disagree with her.

Agatha Christie – Afternoon Tea in the kitchen at Greenway

Finally, Grab your dancing shoes & dress to kill for an amazing Agatha Christie Tea Dance

If you happen to be in London on 27th December,  put on your most gorgeous vintage frock, and head for the Clore Ballroom where a free Agatha Christie tea dance is being held to celebrate her 120th birthday. With 1930s and 1940s live vintage music, who could resist the abundance of vintage glamour!

A rather glamorous Agatha Christie – Afternoon Tea dance

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Take Time for a Winter Tea at Christmas

The vista is one of an amazing winter wonderland

Do you see it? Or is your mind focused on presents still to wrap, or how you will manage if the gifts you ordered do not make it through the snow & ice. Christmas time can be so dominated by the pressure of expectation that we genuinely forget its meaning.

A Tea Cosy with a calming Christmas message - Just the perfect present from The Crafty little cottage Harlech

You may be thinking that time is the last thing you have at this moment

It is one thing that you do have a choice over though. Christmas is about connecting,  of reigniting that magical, childlike wonder of joyfulness. The ceremony of tea allows us to pause, to breath, to charge our batteries even for a moment. It allows your heart to reconnect to what is really important.

Tea with Mary Kate’s Step by Step guide on what to do next

Choose your favourite cup

Why have you saved your best cup for later? Now is the perfect moment to use it, otherwise when will you? Many of you will know I have a weakness for vintage Tea cups, and my recommendation for Christmas Tea time is going to be no exception. I love garlands hanging like Christmas decorations around this beautiful vintage cup.

Beautiful Christmas Vintage Tea Cup

Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea

Tea with Mary Kates’s Top Tips for Brewing are a mere click away. Well, if you are going to do it, you may as well do it well! There is a stillness in doing nothing more than listen to the noise of the water as it boils.

My current favourite teas are:

Birt & Tangs Ginger Tea – a clean warming blend, with cloves, pu’er & a very ginger kick! Do drink without milk

Betty’s Tea room Blend – leaf tea of course – Drink with, or without milk, my preference is with

 

Healthful & refreshing Birt & Tang's Ginger Tea

Keep your Tea Warm

It is cold after all, and quite frankly, there is nothing worse than cold, over brewed tea, so I have included some inspiration on How to keep your Tea Cosy

Warm wishes from Tea with Mary Kate for a joyful & contented Christmas time.

A perfect Reindeer reminder of the meaning of Christmas

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Absolutely Fabulous Christmas Afternoon Tea Menu – Idea’s and Inspiration from Tea with Mary Kate

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there

Absolutely Fabulous Christmas Afternoon Tea menu

Christmas Afternoon Tea Menu

Tea, and the ceremony of tea, represents an opportunity to pause, to breathe, to connect with the aesthetic & ourselves that we rush past most days. Beautiful ribbons and an enchanting christmas poem decorate the menu of Christmas tea time treats. I subscribe to beauty & aesthetics that inspire a way of living, a way that is gentle & respectful, that nurtures, in mind, body & spirit, and what better time to embrace this philosophy than at Christmas.

A Gorgeous Selection of Sandwiches

Cheddar cheese on wholemeal bread with homemade chutney

Turkey on white bread with cranberry sauce

Salmon on brown bread with lemon and dill butter

A Sumptuous Selection of Savouries

Something Sweet

Trifle Filled Tea Cups

Christmas Cake

Florentines

Star Mince pies

Tea

A Choice of Leaf Tea

Tippy Assam – A Full bodied Indian Tea

Chai- An Aromatic flavoursome spiced black Tea

Vintage tea cups add a beautiful touch to the festive occasion

Christmas Afternoon Tea is an indulgence, not only a feast for the appetite – stacks of gorgeous sandwiches, savouries, cakes and tea of course – it also a feast for the eyes – and there is a gift in its beautiful presentation, but the act of just doing it is all important.

Tea with Mary Kate is all about inspiration for seemingly ordinary events, and turning them into wonderful connecting experiences. This Christmas gives us the opportunity to do just that, time to love generously. My wish is that this has encouraged you to enter into the spirit of the moment, and indulge your creativeness! Lay the table, send invitations, draft a menu, home bake and create an enchanting and wonderfully connecting Christmas afternoon tea.

Seasonal red Christmas tea cup with a beautiful decoration of roses

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