What do you take to tea?

[whateveryouwantmetosay]

I'm not British. My husband is and we lived here for ages but expatriated.

We are in England visiting and the elderly neighbor has invited me for tea at 2:30-3.

What does one take when going to someone's house for tea?

elderly neighbour? really nice packet of biscuits

Some nice biscuits or a cake. ☕️

Flowers, nice biscuits, chocolate florentines?

Not stereotyping old people here, but wouldn't an elderly relative have bought biscuits or made a cake if inviting them round for tea.. if someone bought their own cake and I'd made one for the occasion, I'd feel a bit awkward about it, thinking that they only want to eat their own stuff, not anything I had made?

Why not take a nice bunch of flowers, or box of chocolates they can eat later (if they like chocolate), and try to stay away from anything that may rain on their parade.

I'm sure they're not expecting you to take anything, but I would take some nice biscuits. I wouldn't take flowers because that's for friends or people you know well and it wouldn't look right if you spend loads of money and they only literally give you a cup of tea! I mean "tea" could be a meal, with cakes and sandwiches, but that would be later. At 2.30pm it's likely to be just tea and cake/biscuits.

I'd be surprised if they are expecting you to take anything, at that time of day your going for a hot drink and a piece of cake/other sweets item. They aren't expecting a contribution

Take a small gift if you want to but not related to what they are going to be serving. Flowers or chocolates if the person likes them

I would take something like an apple pie or nice bread (but that’s what the elderly people I know like who I visit)

any little token would be kind though

biscuits, Borders do a nice mixed pack for about £4 in Sainsbury’s. they’re ‘shelf’ biscuits and will last a while if not opened on the day.

Definitely biscuits.

Absolutely yes to taking something. Extremely rude to turn up to a pre-planned invite empty handed. (Well it is in my world - 60s - white British, MC - Rural South. )

For tea, a bunch of flowers or a pot plant would fit the bill. Or perhaps chocs. Definitely not cake or biscuits.

Flowers are for anyone not just people you know well.

I'd take flowers. From my own garden if I had nice flowers in the garden.

Or a box of chocolates or nice biscuits that can be kept for later.

If it was my DH's aged aunt we'd take vodka...Smirnoff Red label...but that is quite niche.

I agree - I wouldn't take something that they might already be providing like biscuits or cake!
I would have thought that flowers were perfect for such an occasion - not a huge bouquet, but a simple bunch. I've never thought that you can only give flowers to people you know very well - in fact quite the opposite!

Flowers !!!!!

Sorry, I tried to edit but yes, you're right about the flowers of course. I only meant not to make a huge occasion of it if they were only offering tea because they might be embarrassed. Flowers from the garden would be perfect.

Usually when someone invites you for tea, it means tea and a sweet treat.

So I wouldn't take biscuits or cake, because they're probably going to give you some.

I would take flowers or chocolates but nothing too fancy or extravagant.

Biscuits or cake are absolutely fine. It's just a gesture. Your neighbour may serve them with tea or may keep them to have at another time.

A plant or flowers is also fine, but personally, I wouldn't appreciate them. Again, it's just a gesture and the thought that counts though.

Flowers/produce from the garden are the absolute perfect "I want to bring something, but I don't want to embarrass myself or you by bringing something too expensive or too shit". (Unfortunately, I don't have that sort of garden myself!)

Great, thank you! Flowers sound perfect (or a box of chocs). I'll pop up the high street and grab something.

I do expect it to just be a cuppa and cake.