Have you heard the term “Picky Tea” and wondered what it is?
Well, today, I’m going to talk about “picky tea,” a super fun British meal tradition perfect for using up food and hanging out with family and friends in an informal way.
What Is Picky Tea?
Picky tea is all about enjoying lots of finger foods, snacks, and tasty little bites together, usually foods you wouldn’t typically eat at the same time.
Picky tea is an easygoing, informal way to enjoy a meal without all the fuss of a sit-down dinner. You get to try different flavours and use up lots of food in the cupboards and fridge.
Picky tea is often thrown under the same umbrella as a ‘buffet’ or ‘finger foods,’ but I think of it as something quite different.
A buffet or finger foods are a more intentional meal, something you would plan for, make a list, and buy it.
Picky tea is more a case of rounding up what you already have available already and serving it up.
Picky Tea Ideas
When it comes to the types of foods you’ll find in a picky tea, there’s a bit of everything – depending on the time of year and what you have available.
You might see nibbles like cheese and crackers, cold cuts, cocktail sausages, pizzas, veggies and dips, crisps, small sandwiches, and maybe some sweet treats like mini cakes or biscuits.
It’s a mix-and-match kind of a meal that encourages people to try a little bit of everything.
I usually add in some token salad and fruit to try and balance it all out, but essentially it’s all about using up party style food.
When Is Picky Tea Served?
Picky teas are often served late afternoon or early evening, especially on weekends or during casual get-togethers with friends and family. They’re perfect when you want something more than just a snack but less formal than a full dinner.
Picky teas are also great for parties, movie nights, and any other occasion where people want to munch on a variety of foods while enjoying each other’s company in a relaxed atmosphere.
We typically have a picky tea after Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions – basically times of the year when we have a lot of food that we need to use up combined with wanting an easy to throw together meal.
Fridays are another popular time for a picky tea. It’s the end of the week, we might not be in the mood for cooking, and/or there aren’t enough ingredients to make a complete meal, so we combine some bits and bobs together for a picky tea.
Picky tea Fridays are the best 😉