There’s something magical about hosting a children’s tea party. The tiny teacups, little cakes, and pretend conversations make it an event kids never forget. Whether it’s a birthday, playdate, or just a special family afternoon, the centerpiece of any tea party is, of course, the tea. But when little ones are involved, you’ll want to choose beverages that are safe, caffeine-free, and kid-approved.
In this post, we’ll explore the kid-friendly teas to serve at a children’s tea party, along with practical safety tips to ensure everyone enjoys a fun, healthy and memorable celebration.
Why Choose Herbal and Caffeine-Free Teas for a Kid’s Tea Party?
While I love me some green tea, traditional teas like black, green, and oolong contain natural caffeine. Although adults may enjoy them, children, especially younger ones, should avoid caffeine because it can cause jitteriness, stomach upset, or sleep problems. Since you may not know every child’s medical history, serving caffeinated teas at a kids’ party could also be risky.
It’s good practice to check with parents ahead of your event to ensure that there are no food or drink allergies or even preferences for their little ones. Simply asking and making a note may suffice but if you have a larger group of kids you’re inviting, or if you just want to be extra cautious, it’s a great idea to include a food/drink allergy card to insert into party invitations. You can find my free Food/Drink Allergy printable further down in this post. I also included a list of quick links to some of the products you may want to use at the end of this post.
Here’s the good news? There are plenty of caffeine-free herbal teas and fruit infusions that are both delicious and safe for kids. These teas are often naturally sweet, colorful, and can be served warm or chilled, making them ideal for a party setting.
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The Best Teas for a Children’s Tea Party
Here are my favorite teas that are flavorful and fun to serve at your first or next children’s tea party:
Chamomile Tea
- Why it works: Chamomile is naturally calming and has a soft, floral taste that most kids enjoy.
- Best served: Warm, with sweetener of choice or a slice of apple for added sweetness.
- Bonus Tip: It can help kids relax after an exciting party.
Peppermint Tea
- Why it works: Refreshing and cooling, peppermint tea is great for aiding digestion, so perfect for after party snacks. Kids can relate easily to this flavor since they are usually already familiar with other snacks that are peppermint flavored, like candy or gum.
- Best served: Slightly cooled, perhaps with a slice of orange or strawberry floating in the cup.
- Bonus Tip: Some kids may find peppermint a little strong, so dilute with extra water if needed.
Fruit-Infused Herbal Teas
- Why it works: Teas made from hibiscus, rose hips, apple, or berries are naturally colorful, sweet, and fruity. Kids often think of them as “juice in disguise.”
- Best served: Chilled and poured over ice for a punch-style presentation. Apple flavored teas are also good served warm as it almost tastes like warm cider.
- Bonus Tip: Serve in clear cups so the vibrant pinks and reds shine through.
Lemon Tea
- Why it works: Lemon tea has a light lemony flavor that’s gentle and uplifting, without being sour. Lemon is already a familiar and well-liked flavor for kids.
- Best served: Warm with a touch of honey (for children over one year or sweetener of choice) or iced with a few fresh mint leaves for garnish.
DIY Fruit & Flower Tea Blends
- Why it works: You can create your own blends using dried hibiscus, apple chips, rose petals, or even fresh orange or other dried fruit slices steeped in hot water.
- Best served: In colorful teapots with matching cups or clear teapots that let them see the elements being blended to create tea. This lets kids enjoy the fun of “real tea” that’s completely safe.
- My top pick: I particularly like this option because there is more control over ingredients, and you can make it a fun and focal activity of the party. Kids can create ‘signature’ blends, and they get to taste how it came out and maybe give it a name. It’s similar to custom perfume or wine blending parties. I prefer this option for kids, but you can definitely do this with smaller kids also.
Creative Serving Ideas for a Children’s Tea Party
Making the drinks as whimsical as the decorations adds to the magic. Here are some fun ideas:
- Use kid-sized teacups: Small hands love small cups. It’s both cute and practical. You can find cute disposable cups with matching plates.
- Serve iced teas in mason jars: Add colorful straws for a modern twist.
- Fruit garnishes: Orange slices, strawberries, blueberries, or apple wedges floating in tea make it look fancy and taste sweeter.
- Fruit garnishes for tables: Kids will enjoy adding dried or fresh fruit to their warm tea. Using a chilled condiment caddie for fresh fruit is suggested and there are many to choose from online. What you choose will depend on our overall party aesthetics and personal preferences. For a more refined set up I like this caddy from Amazon. But for a budget friendly alternative I would use these inflatable ones from Amazon. Both work great!
- Sweeteners: If the tea needs a little extra flavor, try honey (for children over one year old), agave syrup, natural fruit juice or brown sugar. Personally, for younger kids I prefer the individual small packets of brown sugar because it’s easier to control the amount of sugar each child gets. I recommend no more than two packets per child.
- Themed teapots: Animal-shaped or floral teapots bring the “wow factor” to the table. Clear teapots are best for DIY fruit and flower blends, but not necessary if you prefer something else.
Safety Tips When Serving Tea to Children
Hosting a children’s tea party is delightful, but safety should always come first. Here are important things to keep in mind:
Watch the Temperature
Kids are more sensitive to hot drinks than adults. Avoiding burn accidents by letting teas cool to lukewarm before serving. You can even brew tea in advance and chill it, then serve it cold or at room temperature.
Avoid Caffeine
Stick to herbal and fruit teas that are naturally caffeine-free. Avoid black, green, white, or oolong teas for young children.
Limit Sweeteners
While it’s tempting to make tea extra sweet, too much sugar can lead to a sugar crash (and sticky fingers everywhere!). If needed, use small amounts of honey, agave, natural fruit juice or small sugar packets (great for portion control). Remember: never give honey to children under 1 year old due to the risk of infant botulism.
Careful of Allergies
Some herbal teas contain flowers or ingredients that could trigger allergies. Always check labels and avoid teas with nuts or unknown flavorings. If hosting a group, ask parents beforehand about allergies. Here is a free printable you can use to insert into invitations so parents can list any food or drink allergies you should be aware of.
Serve in Child-Friendly Cups
Glass teacups are pretty, but they can easily break. Opt for shatterproof teacups or sturdy plastic alternatives designed for kids unless you are hosting bigger kids and willing to take the risk.
Keep Portions Small
Tea should be served in small amounts, like a few ounces per cup. The fun is in sipping slowly, not in large servings. The same is true regarding the food and desserts which we will discuss a little further in the post.
Always Supervise
Tea parties can involve hot liquids, fragile tea ware, and excited kids. Always supervise while the tea is being poured and served, especially when hosting smaller kids.
Kid-Friendly Tea Party Snack Pairings
No tea party is complete without tasty bites! Pair your caffeine-free teas with treats such as:
- Mini sandwiches – peanut butter (take note of any nut allergies) & jelly, cucumber, ham & cheese, cheese spread or cream cheese.
- Fresh fruit kabobs
- Bite-sized muffins or cupcakes
- Animal-shaped cookies
- Mini scones with jam
Snacks should be soft, easy to chew, and cut into small pieces for safety when hosting smaller kids.
Are You Excited about Hosting your tea party?
A children’s tea party is more than just a playdate, it’s a magical experience filled with imagination, laughter, and a touch of elegance. By serving caffeine-free herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint or fruit blends, you’ll create a menu that’s both fun and safe for little guests.
Remember to keep teas cool, watch portion sizes, and avoid caffeine and excess sugar. With those safety tips in mind, your party will be a memorable, picture-perfect event that kids (and parents) will adore.
So, dust off those teapots, bring out the tiny cups, and let the children sip their way into a world of imagination, one safe and delicious cup at a time.
Here’s Your Tea Party Shopping List
- Colorful tea pot with cups
- Clear tea pot
- Disposable clear plastic teacups
- Disposable teacups and matching plates
- Tea party food displays
- Inflatable fruit display
- Mason Jar Drink Dispenser
- Brown sugar packets
- Disposable tea party table covers
- Serving Tray (for sandwiches, fruit or pastries)
- Cookie cutters for fun decorating. I love these and these.