Creating Tea Wedding Favours: A Step-By-Step Guide

Tea wedding favours are a unique and memorable gift for your guests. They can be used to add flavour and aroma to your celebration and are a great way to add a special touch to your big day. There are many different types of tea wedding favours to choose from, including personalised tea bags, loose-leaf tea canisters, and mini mason jars filled with loose-leaf tea. You can even create a custom, personalised tea blend that your guests can take home and enjoy.

Personalised tea blends

Choose Base Teas and Blend Flavours:

Select three different base teas, such as black tea, green tea, and a naturally decaffeinated option like honeybush or rooibos. This provides a variety of options for your guests to choose from. Then, blend these teas with your favourite flavours and ingredients. Perhaps you and your partner have a particular soft spot for certain spices or herbs. You can create a unique blend that combines both of your tastes, symbolising your marriage.

Custom Packaging:

Add a personal touch to your tea favours with customised packaging. Provide guests with tins, jars, or bags featuring your names, wedding date, or a special message. You can also include a cute tag with a whimsical phrase like, "The Sweetest Pair." This elevates the presentation and makes it even more memorable.

DIY Tea-Infused Gifts:

If you're feeling creative, you can make DIY tea-infused gifts for your guests. Prepare little jars of homemade tea-infused bath salts or sugar scrub. These are perfect for guests to relax with after the wedding festivities. Alternatively, if you and your partner love cooking, you can make culinary salts or sugars using your favourite ingredients.

Tea Blending Activity:

Take personalisation a step further by setting up a tea blending activity at your wedding. Create a dedicated area where guests can craft their own custom tea blends. Provide them with the base teas, herbs, spices, and other mix-ins. They can then take their unique creations home in personalised containers. This interactive experience will surely be a talking point for years to come.

Ready-Made Tea Gift Sets:

For your bridesmaids or special guests, consider giving them ready-made tea gift sets. These can include a loose-leaf tea starter set or a sampler gift set with organic, loose-leaf teas. You could even gift them a monthly tea club subscription, allowing them to relive your fabulous wedding every time they receive a new tea selection in the mail.

Tea-infused bath salts

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of salt: Epsom salt, sea salt, and/or pink Himalayan salt. A combination of different salts will add visual interest and variety in benefits.
• 1/2 to 1 cup of dried tea leaves: Choose tea varieties that complement your wedding theme or colours. For example, you could use chamomile, lavender, rose, or green tea.
• 1/2 cup colloidal oat powder: This ingredient is excellent for soothing skin irritation and adding softness.
• 2 tablespoons of carrier oil: Options include vitamin E oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or argan oil.
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of essential oils (optional): If you wish to enhance the scent or add extra therapeutic benefits, consider essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, or bergamot.

Instructions:

• Combine the salts, colloidal oatmeal, and dried tea leaves in a mixing bowl. Stir well to ensure an even distribution.
• Drizzle the carrier oil of your choice over the mixture and stir again until well combined.
• (Optional) Add your chosen essential oils and stir until everything is evenly blended.
• Package your homemade tea-infused bath salts into airtight containers. You can decorate the containers with personalised labels, ribbons, or other decorative touches that match your wedding theme.

Tips for Usage and Storage:

• To use the bath salts, add 1/4 to 2 cups to a warm, full bathtub. The salts can be added directly to the water or placed in a small cotton "tea bag" for a mess-free experience.
• Store the bath salts in a cool, dark, and dry location, such as a cabinet. They will stay fresh and retain their scent when kept in airtight containers.

Your guests will surely appreciate this relaxing and memorable wedding favour, allowing them to unwind and reminisce about your special day.

Tea-themed candles

Candles are a classic wedding favour that can easily be incorporated into a tea-themed celebration. Here are some ideas for tea-themed candle wedding favours:

Tea-themed candle scents

Create candles with tea-inspired scents such as Earl Grey, green tea, or chamomile. You could even add a subtle hint of lemon or honey to create a unique fragrance. These candles can be packaged in elegant tins or jars with personalised labels or tags.

Tea cup candles

Tea cup candles are a unique twist on traditional candle favours. Choose tea cups that match your wedding theme and colour palette. For a rustic wedding, opt for mismatched vintage tea cups, while a modern wedding might call for sleek, minimalist cups. Fill the cups with scented wax and add a wick to create a charming and functional favour.

Tea light holders

For a more affordable option, consider tea light holders as wedding favours. These can be simple glass or metal holders, or you could get creative and opt for something more unique, such as miniature tea pots or tea bags made from porcelain or ceramic. Add a personalised touch with a tag or a sticker featuring your names and wedding date.

Tea-themed candle sets

Curate a tea-themed candle set with a variety of fragrances or colours. For example, you could have a set of three candles inspired by different types of tea, such as Earl Grey, chamomile, and green tea. The candles can be different colours, such as a soft peach for chamomile, a light green for green tea, and a dark grey for Earl Grey. Package the set in a beautiful box with a ribbon and a personalised note.

Tea-infused candles

For a truly unique favour, infuse your candles with actual tea! You can use loose tea leaves or ground them into a fine powder. Add the tea to your candle wax before pouring it into moulds or containers. The tea will add a subtle fragrance and a whimsical touch to your favours.

Tea-making kits

Personalised Tea Bags:

Add a thoughtful message or your wedding date to the tea bags. You can fill them with rose, green, lemon balm, or mixed teas. You could also opt for heart-shaped tea bags to make them extra special.

Tea Jars or Bottles:

Small glass jars or bottles filled with loose-leaf tea make charming favours. You can personalise them with tags or stickers that say "The Perfect Blend" or "Let Love Brew." Consider using rustic burlap sacks or DIY tea bags with twine for an eco-friendly option.

Tea Infusers:

Heart-shaped tea infusers are a perfect choice for a wedding celebration. They can be paired with personalised tags or cards, and some infusers come with a long handle for stirring.

Tea Party Favours:

Create a unique experience by setting up a tea blending station at your wedding. Provide different types of tea, herbs, and spices, along with tins or bags that guests can customise and fill themselves. This interactive activity will be a memorable part of your wedding.

Tea Gift Sets:

For a more premium option, consider gifting ready-made tea gift sets. The Loose Leaf Tea Starter Set or Sampler Gift Set are excellent choices, especially if paired with a fancy teacup or mug in your wedding colours.

Tea-themed Decorations:

Incorporate tea into your wedding decor with teapot-shaped favour boxes or floral teapot boxes. These can be filled with treats or small gifts for your guests. You can also find vintage floral teapot candy boxes or mini teapot-shaped boxes with ribbons to add a whimsical touch to your tables.

Remember, you can personalise these tea-making kits with custom labels, tags, or cards to include your names, wedding date, or a heartfelt message. These favours will not only be functional but will also serve as a lovely reminder of your special day.

Tea-infused cookies

Ingredients:

For tea-infused cookies, you will need the following ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Finely ground tea leaves (such as Earl Grey or Chai)
• Butter
• Sugar
• Egg
• Baking powder
• Salt (optional)
• Vanilla extract (optional)
• Icing sugar or granulated sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Preparation:

Step 1: Prepare the Tea Leaves:

Start by preparing the tea leaves. You can use tea bags or loose-leaf tea. If using tea bags, cut them open and remove the tea leaves. Measure out the desired amount and finely grind the tea leaves using a spice grinder, mortar and pestle, or a coffee grinder. The finer the grind, the stronger the tea flavour in your cookies.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground tea leaves, baking powder, and salt (if using). Sifting the dry ingredients together ensures a light and airy texture for your cookies.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar:

In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step is essential for incorporating air into the dough, creating a softer and more delicate cookie.

Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients:

To the creamed butter and sugar, add the egg and vanilla extract (if using). Mix until well combined. The vanilla extract enhances the flavour of the cookies and pairs well with the tea infusion.

Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients:

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix the dough at this stage. You can also add additional mix-ins at this point, such as chocolate chips or dried fruit, if desired.

Step 6: Chill the Dough:

Shape the dough into a disc and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to firm it up. Chilling helps to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring they hold their shape.

Step 7: Roll and Cut Cookies:

Once the dough is chilled, lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll out the dough to your desired thickness, usually about 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thick. Using cookie cutters or the rim of a glass, cut out your desired shapes. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each cookie.

Step 8: Bake the Cookies:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just golden. The baking time may vary depending on your oven and the size of your cookies, so keep an eye on them to avoid over-baking.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy:

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. The cookies will continue to cook slightly as they cool, so it's important to let them rest. Once cooled, sprinkle with icing sugar or granulated sugar for added sweetness and presentation, if desired.

Packaging and Presentation:

For wedding favours, you can package the cookies in decorative bags or boxes. Here are some ideas for presentation:

• Personalised bags or boxes with your names, wedding date, or a thoughtful message.
• Mini mason jars filled with cookies and decorated with ribbons or twine.
• Small gift boxes with a window to display the cookies, tied with a bow.
• Vintage-style tins or boxes that match your wedding theme.
• Pair the cookies with a personalised tea mug or a tea infuser for a complete tea-themed favour.

Frequently asked questions