Tea on the Titanic ~ A Special Tea Time Tuesday

"In the end, what affects your life most deeply are things too simple to talk about." ~ Nell Blaine

Welcome friends to a very special Tea Time Tuesday ~ Tea on the Titanic.

Before I begin my tea, I want to invite you to share any tea things you may want this week. It does not have to be a Titanic tea.

I thought it only fitting to have a Tea in memory of all those who set sail on the Titanic April 10, 1912. I have been working on this post for several weeks and I hope you enjoy it. This is a rather lengthy post so please make yourself comfortable and let's visit a while.

We have all heard the tragic story of Titanic and how she collided with an iceberg, causing her to sink to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean on April 15th, around 2:20 AM, taking with her over 1500 souls....

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When Titanic left Southhampton on her fatal voyage she had on board over 2200 passengers and crew members. The voyage was uneventful until Sunday, April 14th, when the wireless operator received and acknowledged a message from the Amerika, warning her of the existence of a large field of ice into which Titanic's  course would lead her toward day's end....

....and the rest as they say, is history!

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According to news reports, the first distress signal picked up in Canada was received by chief operator Thomas Bartlett at Cape Bear, the only Marconi station here on Prince Edward Island. The signal was picked up at the same time at a station in Cape Race,  Newfoundland, which was not yet a part of Canada at the time.

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I must confess that I never paid too much attention to the Titanic and its tales until I watched James Cameron's epic film, Titanic. It was while watching the film that I realized those were real people on the great ship and they each had a story. Indeed theirs was a tragic story and one hundred years later, we remember them.

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Although Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater were fictional characters in the movie, their love story represents just one of the many aboard the Titanic on that fateful voyage. 
I, for one, grew to have great compassion for all those lost and those they left behind.

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My hubby, our son, and I had seen the movie in 1997 and we were all very moved by the story. Granted, we could do without the nudity and vulgar language which was in the movie, and my favourite version is the edited version, but over all, it was a great movie! A tear-jerker indeed!

Our son, who is very musical, was so moved by the movie score that he learned to play the hauntingly beautiful title song, "My Heart Will Go On" on the keyboard.

He also purchased the book, "The Complete Titanic" written by Stephen J. Spignesi, from which I have gleaned a few references for this post.

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There were three classes of people on board the Titanic and each class had their own china and menu.
One thing all three classes had in common; they all had their tea time.

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Tea on the Titanic for the first and second class passengers  probably consisted of scones, black currant conserve, marmalade, and honey.

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Third class passengers were served a tea which was most likely akin to a working man's tea that included meat and cheese, pickles, and fresh bread and jam. According to the information I got from the book mentioned above, their menu also consisted of currant buns, Swedish bread, which was a kind of yeast free bread, Plum and Apple jam, as well as Rhubarb and Ginger jam. Damson jam was also on the menu.

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This is a replica of the teacup used by first class passengers on Titanic who dined with Captain Smith at his table. It was made by Spode; a rich cobalt blue with beautiful gold trim. It was a stunning cup!

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Now let's have some tea, shall we?  White roses grace the table as well as my best damask table cloth and napkins.

For this very special occasion, I am using my silver tea service.

Everyone is welcome at my tea table. There are no classes here!

The silver had developed a wonderful patina on it which I like but I polished it up just for our tea today.

I have baked some fruit scones and drizzled almond icing over them. Earl Grey tea is being served with them.

On the table is Black Current jam and marmalade, as well as Lemon Curd and Clotted Cream.

Recipe for Clotted Cream

1 cup heavy cream
2 TBSP Confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup sour cream

1. Mix 1 cup heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of Confectioner's sugar using an electric mixer. Whip until stiff peaks form.
2. Gently fold in sour cream and mix until thick.
3. Place in refrigerator and chill until time to serve. If made ahead of time, it will keep up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.


Please help yourself...


This teacup is Imari made in England by Oxford. A stunning cup which I found at the 70 Mile Yard Sale last Autumn. 

Would you like lemon with your tea?

This blue and white teacup is Royal Homes of Britain made by Enoch Wedgwood of England. It sits on a Blue Willow dessert plate made by Churchill...

And for a plain setting, I have a Cream Lace by Skye McGhie teacup with its fleur de lis and pretty cut-outs on the saucer.

A vintage silver butter knife to slather on whatever you fancy for your scone.

While we are enjoying our tea, let's take a peek at some of the china patterns most likely used on board the Titanic.

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Each class had their own china as I have already mentioned. The first class passengers were served on this Crown china with the White Star Lines logo in the center. It's a very attractive pattern with a turquoise and brown motif which I believe was made by Spode.

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In my search for information, I also came across this delightful miniature tea set. Isn't it darling?

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Second class passengers used the Delft 'Flow Blue' china also bearing the White Star Lines logo.

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And third class passengers were served their meals on this china - White ware also bearing the White Star Lines logo in the center. 

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Found in the wreckage of Titanic was also this pattern which is believed to have been used by third class passengers as well.

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As you can see, the first class passengers were served on very classy china while the third class were served on rather plain china.

I hope you have enjoyed my take on the teacups!

As I mentioned, there are no classes here at my tea. You may choose whichever teacup you like.


I would imagine all three classes on the Titanic were quite happy to be aboard "the grandest ship in the world" until of course, tragedy struck!

Titanic was tragic and I know I have been greatly affected by the story. One hundred and fifty souls were buried in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Hundreds were buried at sea.

I will end this post with a verse from the last piece of music likely ever played on Titanic by Bandmaster Wallace Henry Hartley and his orchestra.

Nearer My God to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Even though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be-
Nearer, my God, to Thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to Thee!

May their souls rest in peace! 

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I hope you have enjoyed visiting today and I thank you for stopping by. I do hope I got all my facts straight and I apologize if I haven't!


"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." ~ James 4:14



Your presence always make my tea party that much more special! Do you have a favourite teacup/teapot or mug that you would like to share with us today? I would love to see it and I'm sure others would too!

If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too:
Hot apple cider
Hot chocolate
Lemonade
Iced tea or iced coffee
Punch in a lovely bowl.
No alcoholic beverages please.

The Tea Time Tuesday button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post or place on your sidebar if you wish. A poem, tea quote, or scripture verse would be more than welcome! To be sure everyone has a visit, it would be nice if you visited the participant before and after your name. Inlinkz is available below for you to sign up for my tea party.

As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following parties as well~


Blue Monday
Simply Sweet
A Return to Loveliness
Table Top Tuesday
Tea Cup Tuesday
Tea Cup Tuesday
Tea Party Tuesday
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
Teacup Thursday
Home Sweet Home



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi