You found our list of fancy virtual tea party ideas.
Virtual tea parties are online events where guests sip tea, nibble on desserts or light refreshments, and enjoy light conversation. These parties can also include games and activities to entertain guests. These events are sometimes called “online tea parties” or “virtual afternoon tea.”
These parties are an example of virtual social event ideas, and can function as online team building activities or virtual birthday parties. These events are similar to virtual tea tasting classes and online coffee tasting experiences.
This list contains:
- virtual tea party games for adults
- virtual afternoon tea ideas
- Zoom tea party ideas
- tea party Zoom backgrounds
- how to host a virtual tea party
Here is the list!
List of virtual tea party ideas
From care packages, to crafts, to games, here is a list of ways to make your online tea party equal parts comfy and engaging.
1. Tea vs Coffee (Fully Hosted) 🍵
Virtual tea tastings are a calming yet energizing way to spend time together online. Tea vs Coffee is a zen virtual tea and coffee tasting ceremony for remote teams.
Guests join the host on Zoom for thoughtful icebreaker questions, short meditations, and an instructional brewing and tasting session. The goal of the gathering is to inspire calm and mindfulness, achieving group unity and serenity through the act of being present while physically distant.
Learn more about Tea vs Coffee.
2. Virtual Tea Party Bingo
Virtual Tea Party Bingo is one of many printable tea party games to play as the party progresses. Simply send cards to party guests, and instruct attendees to be on the lookout for behaviors listed on the card. When another guest commits an act on the card, players will write their name in the square.
The first player to connect five consecutive squares and call Bingo wins!
We made a Virtual Tea Party Bingo template for you to use:
Feel free to add your own clues, and be sure to randomize the squares so that not everyone wins at once!
This game is similar to Online Team Building Bingo.
3. Virtual Tea Party Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts make great tea party games for adults and kids alike. When playing online, lightning scavenger hunts tend to work better than traditional hunts, since the quick nature of the game holds players’ attention more effectively. To play a lightning scavenger hunt, simply read prompts one at a time, then award points to the team member who performs a task or fetches an item first.
We made a virtual tea party scavenger hunt template for you to use during your bash:
For more information, check out our guide to virtual scavenger hunts.
4. Decorum or Deceit?
Playing virtual tea party games entertains party guests between bouts of insightful conversation. Decorum or Deceit? is a fun challenge that asks party guests to discern whether etiquette rules are phoney or for-real. To play, read off the rules, then ask guests to decide whether the etiquette tip is fact or fake. The polling or reaction features in Zoom facilitate the voting process.
We made a template and answer key you can use to run your game:
For added fun, make up your own bogus rules to share with each other. You can even turn the etiquette into a tea-drinking game, making players sip after breaking a rule.
Also, brush up on good behavior by checking out our virtual meeting etiquette tips article.
5. Teatime Care Package Kits
Mailing tea-themed care package kits makes your online affair a more hands-on experience and builds anticipation for the event. Plus, everyone loves to receive presents!
Here are some ideas of items to include in virtual tea party kits:
- Teas
- Infusers
- Fun mugs
- Mug toppers
- Cup koozies
- Cookies
- Petit fours
- Mini cupcakes or cupcakes in a jar
- Honey sticks
- Stirring spoons
- Fake flowers
- Doilies
- Paper fans
- Printed napkins
If your online tea party occurs at work, then consider sending these fancy care packages as virtual employee engagement idea. Goodie bags do wonders for keeping family and friends interested during events too!
6. Virtual Tea Bake Off
Drinks might be the main event at a virtual tea party, but snacks come in as a close second. If you Google “tea party,” then you will find pages of pictures of pastel pastries, dainty finger sandwiches, scones, cupcakes, cookies, and plenty of other scrumptious baked goods.
You and your crew can channel your inner “Great British Bake-Off” and whip up desserts together on camera. Simply choose your treats, prepare your recipes, then give guests 30 minutes to prepare the confections. Because the point of a party is to socialize, ask attendees to bring their phones or laptops into the kitchen so that you can chat while you bake. When the bakers finish, show off the finished products and choose a winner. While you cannot judge a winner by taste test, you can cast votes based on appearance, structural integrity and other factors.
Even if you do not wish to compete, you can bake together on camera, or before the party. Consider swapping recipes beforehand in a Slack channel, social media group, or Google Doc. You could even send participants a “secret ingredient” to incorporate into the recipes. If your crew would rather the oven stay off, then purchase and send artisan desserts instead.
Check out this list of virtual cooking classes too.
7. Mug Decorating
Mug decorating enables guests to customize cups for the event, as well as mementos to enjoy long after the party ends!
To host a mug decorating session during your remote tea party:
- Purchase blank mugs to send to participants
- Assemble decorating kits with supplies like sharpies, paint pens, nail polish, or chalkboard paint.
- Send craft kits to guests.
- Embellish your mugs together while on Zoom or another video call.
Be sure to show off your finished projects before brewing beverages. As a fun follow-up, create a social media hashtag or online photo album so attendees can share pictures of themselves enjoying the cups post-party.
8. Candle Making
Fancy teacups make great candle containers, and teacup candles make great virtual tea party crafts.
First, find pretty teacups. Flea markets and vintage sales often sell porcelain cups for low prices, but you can find inexpensive online options at Goodwill, or similar vendors.
Guests will also need candle-making materials: at minimum, wax chips and wicks. Aromatherapy oils and dyes are good additions too. Craft stores carry these items, but buying in bulk might be more prudent. Either send supplies to attendees, or reimburse for the cost of materials.
To make the candles:
- Set the wick in the cup.
- Melt the wax, adding fragrance and color if desired.
- Pour liquid wax into the cup.
- Wait for the mixture to cool.
Once the candle sets, it is ready to burn.
9. Tea Painting
Tea painting is an art project that uses materials your guests will already have at hand: tea and water. To make the paint, use twice as much tea and half as much water. Cardstock or watercolor paper tend to be the best canvas.
To mix certain colors, use the following teas:
- Blue or pink – berry tea
- Red – rooibos
- Yellow – chamomile
- Green – matcha
- Brown – black tea
One of the more intimate Zoom tea party ideas is to paint cards together, write personal messages, and send the greetings to fellow guests after the call. This activity helps participants feel closer, even when physically far apart!
Check out our list of online art classes for more ideas.
10. Zoom Background Contest
Chances are, your guests will not join the party from decadent tea parlors or lush gardens, but thanks to Zoom’s custom virtual background feature, you can pretend!
Zoom tea party backgrounds set the proper atmosphere for your party. Consider holding a Zoom background contest to help set the tone for a fancy affair.
Here are a few suggestions for tea party Zoom backdrops to inspire you:
- Victorian Mansion
- Rose garden
- Enchanted forest
- Mad Hatter’s table from Alice in Wonderland
- Princess palace
- Fairytale landscape
- The Boston Harbor
Simply announce the contest on your invitations, then join the party, judge the scenery, and choose a winner! Feel free to use the poll option to anonymously vote for the best background.
11. Tea Leaf Fortune Telling
After you finish your beverages, read fortunes in the tea leaves at the bottom of the cups. Tasseography, the practice of tea reading, works best if you use loose leaves.
Here is a list of common tea leaf shape meanings:
- Anchor – luck in business or love
- Apples – longevity and health
- Birds – good luck or happy travels
- Circles – material good fortune
- Cross – trouble or death
- Hammer – overcoming struggles
- House – success
- Line – journey or travel
- Moon – prosperity or happiness
- Squares – peace
- Sword – arguments or unrest
- Worms or snakes – enemies or deceit.
Simply drink the tea, study the shapes, and discuss possible meanings. For more information, check out this guide to tasseography.
12. Hot Toddies
Hot toddies are warm drinks blended with spirits that serve as comforting pick-me-ups during colder months. Brewing these delightful drinks livens up remote tea parties by creating a virtual happy hour atmosphere.
Here is how to make a basic hot toddy or tea cocktail:
- Add honey to the bottom of the mug.
- Brew a cup of tea within the mug.
- Add 1.5 oz whiskey, rum, or brandy.
- Garnish with lemon.
Feel free to experiment with different flavors of tea.
For extra fun, turn standard drinking games like Never Have I Ever and Truth or Dare into classy tea party games for adults.
Check out our list of virtual happy hour ideas for more inspiration.
13. Teatime Talking Topics
Teatime is a time to chat and catch up with friends. By preparing talking points ahead of time, you ensure that chatter flows just as readily as tea at your virtual party.
Here are a few virtual tea party conversation starters:
- What is your favorite kind of tea?
- What is the most beautiful location you have ever visited?
- What is the best way to spend a rainy afternoon?
- Describe your dream house.
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
- What is one interesting thing you recently learned?
- Who do you admire?
- What is the last book you read?
Check out our lists of icebreaker questions and fun question games for more ideas.
14. Online Murder Mystery
Tea is a Victorian tradition, and while many folks think of this period as prim and proper, crime and scandal are also recurring themes of the era. Which means that murder mysteries are fitting virtual tea party activities.
First, find a virtual murder mystery with a theme that fits into your tea party. Then, invite your guests to become detectives and unravel the cold case while sipping and snacking.
For more ideas, check out our list of virtual murder mystery party games.
Final Thoughts
Virtual tea parties are great mid-afternoon ways to unwind and catch up with coworkers, friends, or family. The casual, relaxed atmosphere encourages mindfulness, friendly interaction, and joy. Most folks enjoy the chance to catch up, dress up, share a snack and drink, and celebrate a special occasion in an informal setting.
Next, check out this post on virtual wine tasting, this list of games for virtual parties, and this one with games to play on Zoom.
We also have a list of ways to do chocolate tasting virtually.
Angela Robinson