VGCC schedules “Let’s Have a Tea Party” in October

It is said that “a tea party is a spa for the soul.” Area residents will soon be able to find out when Vance-Granville Community College again offers the “Let’s Have a Tea Party” course in collaboration with The Old North State Tea Society. The course will be held in the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church in Henderson, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 until 4 p.m., starting Oct. 5. The course will conclude with an actual afternoon tea party organized by the students on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Students will learn about the history of tea; the difference between an afternoon tea party, a royal tea party and “High Tea;” and the proper way to make the best pot of tea. They will sample a wide variety of teas (black, white, green, Oolongs and herbal) and tea party recipes, while also learning about good manners with proper tea etiquette.

Completion of the course guarantees automatic membership in the Old North State Tea Society, which offers opportunities to participate in group visits to various tea rooms and tea events.

Jane Fleming of Henderson and Sherrill Blazer of Cary, members of the Old North State Tea Society, will lead the class. Constance Lue of Oxford, who founded both the society and this class at VGCC in 2006, promises the course “will open a whole new world of proper entertaining with the tea experience.” Students will meet other members of the Tea Society who attended prior classes.

The cost of the course is $55, which includes a binder with class materials, recipes and tea information.

For more information and to register, call Gabrielle Norfleet at (252) 738-3275.

Above: Sherrill Blazer of Cary places finger foods on a three-tier server in preparation for a formal afternoon tea. Blazer is one of the instructors for the upcoming VGCC course. (photo submitted by Geri Floyd)