A Tea-themed Thanksgiving

Two things I love: Tea and Thanksgiving.

Earlier this year (yes, I begin thinking about Thanksgiving, um, probably in July), I sent my extended family my idea for a tea-themed Thanksgiving menu. It's been rejected in favor of the dishes we make every year - and just once a year, so I understand - so I'm sharing my idea here for what a tea-themed Thanksgiving menu could look like!

Hors d'oeuvres

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Iced cranberry tea

Baby root vegetables with Lapsang Souchong aioli

Darjeeling tea-smoked salmon on crackers

Mushroom cappuccino (served in doll-sized tea cups)

First course

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Sencha

Persimmon and mesclun salad with slivered almonds and tea vinaigrette

Herbed yam and sweet onion tea sandwiches

Turkey tea sandwiches

Ochazuke with wild rice and pumpkin dumplings

Second course

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Earl Grey with lemon and honey

Grilled tea-brined turkey with tea-and-lemon gravy

Vegetarian stuffing and cranberry chutney

Dessert

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Masala chai

Cranberry and pumpkin pie spice tea cake

Applesauce spice tea cake

English Breakfast ice cream