faqs

the experience

  • We offer three types of tea parties -

    Full Service Tea Party - we set up, style, serve, and clean up, so you can simply enjoy your guests

    Self-Service Tea Party - we deliver the food and setup essentials; you style it however you like

    Hamper (Food Only) - a beautifully packed food and teas only spread delivered to you

    View full details here TEA PARTY

  • Our tea parties include the complete setup for you to host an afternoon tea at your venue, including

    • freshly made savory and sweet bites

    • premium tea sachets with accompaniments

    • tea pots

    • tea cups and saucers

    • creamer, sugar bowls, strainers

    • 3-tier stands

    • appetizer plates

    • silver ware

    • serve ware

    • place settings - place mats / chargers / dinner plates / salad plates (depending on your theme)

    • table linens

    • table decor

    • printed tea menu + brewing instructions

    Optionally, you can add on

    • custom themed decor

    • printed menu and place cards

    • activity sets / tea mixing kits

  • Yes, for events whre you simply want our delicacies, we offer The Hamper.

    Simply select a package that suits your event, curate your menu, and place your order.

    Your selected items are prepared, packed, and delivered to you ready to eat.

  • Our full service tea party includes a friendly, professional, trained staff member for a 2 hour duration.

    We recommend 1 staff per 10-12 guests for optimal service.

  • Sorry, we do not offer stand-alone rentals of our tableware / tea ware.

    We do offer a self-styled tea party where we deliver the required setup along with the food, and return to pick it all up.

  • Sorry, we do not provide tables and chairs.

    If you wish for us to take care of it, we are happy to get you a rental quote from a preferred vendor.

    Please contact us to discuss rates and availability.

  • Our standard tea parties last 2 hours.

    We are happy to adjust your quote for an extended duration if desired.

    Our staff requires additional time for setup (60-120 minutes) and tear down (45-60 minutes). It is the hosts’s responsibility to ensure venue access for the complete duration.

  • Yes, absolutely. If you have a specific theme or design in mind, we’d be happy to talk it through and put together a custom quote.

    Let’s Talk

  • Yes, we can setup your afternoon tea as a picnic on the beach or in a public park.

    Any required permits must be obtained by you.

the packages

+ menu

  • We offer 4 different menus:

    The Windsor - our most generous menu to create a truly indulgent experience; for special milestone events

    The Mayfair - our take on the timeless, traditional British afternoon tea service; for all types of celebrations

    The Paddington - a lighter version of the classic afternoon tea service designed for children under 10 years of age.

    The Riviera - a French twist, featuring mini artisan charcuterie plates (vegetarian, no meat version available) paired with savories and a macaron

    View full details here: PACKAGES

  • Yes, we do! We love creating afternoon teas for our little guests, and our Paddington Tea menu is designed for children ages 10 and under.

  • True to tradition, our afternoon tea consists of a selection of

    • teas and tisanes

    • gourmet savories including finger sandwiches, tarts, quiches, and other bite sized delicacies

    • delicate mini desserts including cakes, tartlets, madeleines, cheesecakes, macarons, and other small pastries

    • freshly baked scones with accompaniments

  • Our menu items rotate seasonally to keep things fresh. You can view the complete menu currently on offfer here: MENU

  • Our tea menu consists of black, white, green, oolong, pu-erh, and herbal tisanes. These include a range of delicious flavors - fresh, citrusy, floral, earthy, warm, and spicy to name just a few.

    All teas are provided as individual silky pyramid sachets that can be brewed by the host / server at the tea station or by guests directly in their cups.

    Simple, easy-to-follow brewing instructions are included with the teas.

  • At this time, we do not offer gluten-free or vegan menus.

    All our food is prepared in a single kitchen, and cross-contamination with allergens is possible. If you have allergy-related concerns, please contact us before booking.

booking & payments

  • Start by choosing your desired setup style, tea package, and menu items.

    Then send us your request to book. We’ll review everything and send you a custom quote and booking information by email, usually within 24 hours.

  • We accept bookings anywhere from 1 week to 6 months in advance, depending on availability. Early booking is always recommended, especially for weekends, holidays, and popular dates.

  • Yes, we do require a minimum order value of $650, excluding tax, delivery / service fees.

  • To secure your reservation, a 50% payment is required at the time of booking. This includes a 25% non-refundable retainer and a 25% deposit.

    The remaining 50% balance is due 1 week prior to your event.

  • We understand plans change and will do our best to accommodate adjustments within reason.

    Final guest counts must be confirmed one week before your event.

    Changes may affect pricing.

  • We understand plans change and will do our best to work with you to rebook within 6 months of the original date, subject to availability.

    Bookings cancelled more than 1 week before the event will be refunded the full deposit.

    Retainer fee is not refundable at any time.

    Exact dates for your refund window will be clearly mentioned in your agreement.

  • Unfortunately no, the retainer fee is non-refundable.

    Once received, we book your event, and hold the date exclusively for you.

    Your retainer fee goes towards our planning and preparation, including purchasing inventory, reserving staff, and coordinating with vendors as needed. Since we begin this process immediately upon confirmation, we are unable to refund the retainer.

delivery & logistics

  • Setup takes 60 - 120 minutes; tear-down requires 45 - 60 minutes.

    This will depend on your guest count, and the complexity of the tablescape.

    We will confirm the exact arrival / pickup windows with you in advance to make sure we have access to the venue, and everything is ready well before your guests arrive.

  • We charge a flat delivery fee based on distance from our kitchen location

    • 1 - 25 miles: $35

    • 25 - 40 miles: $55

  • Our tea parties can be booked for Wednesday to Sundays with 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm start time.

  • Our standard packages are available for groups of 8 to 40 guests.

    For larger events, please contact us and we’ll be happy to put together a custom quote for you.

  • Casa Zaara creates afternoon tea experiences for all kinds of occasions - birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, end of life celebrations, retirements, graduations, group home or social club celebrations, and small corporate gatherings. If you have something a little different in mind, we’d love to hear about it.

  • We serve all of San Diego County. Delivery fees are based on distance from our kitchen.