How to Host a Gothic High Tea at Home
A Victorian-inspired winter ritual for dark romantics on snowbound afternoons
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
Photo Credit: @fedebiancyshinoda
January invites a slow, sacred relationship with time.
The month encourages warmth, ritual and intention, whether gathered indoors or framed by falling snow.
The ceremony of high tea offers a refined way to mark the season, whether your alone with a book or seeking sanctuary from the weather with friends.
High tea, as we know it today, emerged a tradition in the United Kingdom during the Victorian era as both a snack between lunch and dinner and an opportunity to entertain. The ritual balanced elegance with practicality, serving structured tiers of delicious treats alongside conversation, quality time and ambiance.
In gothic households, the ritual of high tea invites opportunity to brew up a witchy concoction, enjoy storied heirlooms or beloved antiques, curate a themed menu or wear en elegant outfit; the possibilities are endless.
The Theme
While “Victorian High Tea,” is technically a theme, you may want to get a little bit more specific as you curate your menu, decor and overall ambiance.
Dracula: A Love Tale
With the new film anticipated in February, get into the spirit of the story with blood-red accents, black lace, smokey menu selections and fragrance.
Mourning Parlour
Jet black, ivory, cameo motifs, dried floral and corseted silhouettes inspired by Victorian mourning rituals.
Winter Conservatory
Botanicals under glass, pressed leaves, herbal teas, edible flowers, dried citrus peels and palette of greens with gold and black
Séance at Dusk
Muted metallics with jewel tones, tea leaf reading, incense notes, low lighting.
Brönte-Core
Channel Brontë-core as we eagerly await the latest adaptation of Wuthering Heights with wind-scoured romance, moorland palettes, storm-lit interiors. Think weathered wood, peat-smoke notes, rough linen and handwritten placecards.
The Tea Tower
Photo Credit: @notch8restaurant
A traditional high tea is built vertically. This signature foundation creates hierarchy, literally.
The bottom tier belongs to scones, clotted cream and jam. This level grounds the table with a thematic take on a beloved classic. Keep it simple with timeless tea biscuits or bring in seasonal flavours like cardamom and rosemary for your scones served with raspberry jam and an orange zest clotted cream.
The middle tier is reserved for sandwiches and savoury canapés. Think delicate portions that emphasize contrast through pillowy texture, flavourful fillings and botanical accents. Traditional favourites include roast beef canapé with horseradish cream, a mini mushroom and thyme quiche and/or a smoked salmon and dill cream cheese sandwich.
The top tier carries sweet desserts. Small sweets work best here, favouring impact over abundance through indulgent chocolate truffles decorated with dried florals or jewel-toned macarons
Choosing the Tea Blend
Photo Credit: Petals & Poison
Tea selection shapes the tone of the gathering.
Black teas lend authority and depth to winter tables while herbal blends soften the experience for longer afternoons.
Consider offering two options that compliment your menu to create choice for your guests without cluttering your tablescape.
Combinations could be:
Earl Grey + Camomile Lavender
Assam + Roobios Vanilla
Darjeeling + Rosehip Hibiscus
English Breakfast + Peppermint
Lapsang Souchong + Lemon Balm
And, remember, presentation matters as much as flavour. Avoid having teabags visible on the table by brewing tea in your teapot(s) or using individual, on-theme lose-leaf tea strainers.
For an added mystic twist, guests may save their final cup of loose leaf for tea leaf reading (use a deck like this to practice at home). This ritual connects Victorian superstition with modern curiosity.
The Tablescape
A Victorian high tea relies on discipline rather than novelty. Every object should feel deliberate, down to the soap in the bathroom.
A porcelain or sterling silver teapot grounds the table. Teacups benefit from subtle variation rather than perfect matching.
A tablecloth establishes mood before the first cup is poured. Linen, velvet or lace work well in tones aligning with your theme and existing decor.
A single centrepiece maintains focus with seasonally-inspired candles, winter florals or dried botanicals added where appropriate.
Small accents complete the scene without excess. Silver spoons and server wear, decorative plates, porcelain creamer and sugar bowl and folded cloth napkins.
Dress Code
A dress code transforms the afternoon from mundane activity you do in front of the television to an elevated experience to embody and enjoy. Guests should dress in an on-theme ensemble that feels authentic and brings them joy.
Check out Blackwood Castle, La Femme En Noir, Katakomb, Selkie, Disturbia and Lively Ghosts for long sleeves and tailored silhouettes reference Victorian influence in dark neutrals, ivory or muted jewel tones, which work beautifully in winter light.
Finishing their outfits with a kiss lock purse, delicate gloves + fascinators (check Babeyond) and jewellery that nods to the era helps to set the mood, like incorporating cameos, brooches, mourning jewellery, onyx + enamel, lockets and/or birthstones where possible.
Ambiance
Photo Credit: The Olive Branch Nest
Let the room settle into a low hum with candle light, a light mist of Heretic room spray and a modern playlist that carries Victorian romance into the present.
A candle like Goth Candle’s Arsenic with notes of almond an intrigue enhances ritual energy.
Playlist
Florence + The Machine — Cosmic Love
London Grammar — Strong
Sevdaliza — Human
Chelsea Wolfe — Feral Love
Agnes Obel — Riverside
Hozier — In a Week
Bat for Lashes — Laura
Lana Del Rey — Gods & Monsters
The Last Dinner Party — Nothing Matters
Aurora — Runaway
Weyes Blood — Andromeda
Daughter — Youth
Mitski — Geyser
Cocteau Twins — Heaven or Las Vegas
Massive Attack — Teardrop
Mazzy Star — Fade Into You
Fever Ray — If I Had a Heart
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Into My Arms
Ethel Cain — Crush
FKA twigs — Cellophane
Close the afternoon slowly, letting conversation linger as the tea cools and the room settles back into itself.
High tea is about presence, making what could be a dreary winter day into something magical
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