Suffragist Tea Recipe with Rose and Lavender

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Make a floral pot of tea inspired by the women who gathered, organized, and worked for women’s rights.

In July 1848, Jane Hunt hosted a tea gathering in Waterloo, New York. Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M’Clintock, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton joined her. Their conversation about women’s position in society led them to plan a women’s rights convention in nearby Seneca Falls.

Tea gatherings continued to serve as places where suffragists could meet and raise funds. This rose-and-lavender recipe is my own modern interpretation for a suffrage-inspired tea table—not a documented recipe from the 1840s. However, I like to think that this recipe would have been loved by suffragists of the past, and maybe, it will inspire modern voters today.

Suffragist Tea Recipe

A fragrant black tea with gentle floral notes from rose and lavender. Serve it warm with honey and lemon, or enjoy it plain.

Ingredients

Tools to Make the Suffragist Tea

Brewing Suffragist Tea

1. Heat the water until just off the boil.
2. Place the tea, rose petals, and lavender in a tea infuser or teapot.
3. Pour the hot water over the tea blend.Steep for 3–4 minutes, then remove the infuser or strain the tea.
4. Serve warm with honey and lemon, if desired.
   

Tips and Tricks

A Tea Table Inspired by Suffrage History

Some U.S. suffrage organizations used purple, white, and gold, while other groups chose different colors. Gold had broad associations with the U.S. movement; the National Woman’s Party used the purple, white, and gold combination. You can bring those colors to your table with a purple ribbon, white linens, or yellow flowers.

Serve the tea with small cakes, shortbread, or finger sandwiches. A small printed card with a suffrage history fact or a question for guests can invite conversation.

A Modern Recipe With a Historical Inspiration

There isn’t a known historical recipe for the tea served at Jane Hunt’s gathering. This blend is simply a way to connect a present-day tea table with a moment in women’s history: a conversation among friends that helped set plans in motion.

Yield: 4 cups

Suffragist Tea Recipe

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A fragrant black tea with gentle floral notes from rose and lavender. Serve it warm with honey and lemon, or enjoy it plain

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes 3 seconds

Total Time 9 minutes 3 seconds

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 4 teaspoons Earl Grey or another black tea
• 1 teaspoon dried culinary rose petals
• A scant ⅛ teaspoon dried culinary lavender
• Honey and lemon, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat the water until just off the boil.
2. Place the tea, rose petals, and lavender in a tea infuser or teapot.
3. Pour the hot water over the tea blend.
4. Steep for 3–4 minutes, then remove the infuser or strain the tea.
5. Serve warm with honey and lemon, if desired.

Notes

Use culinary-grade flowers. Rose petals and lavender should be sold for food use.

Keep the lavender light. A small amount adds a floral aroma without overpowering the tea.

Adjust the strength. Steep a little longer for a stronger cup, tasting as you go.

Make it caffeine-free. Substitute rooibos for the black tea and follow the same steeping instructions.

Serve it fresh. Brew only what you plan to drink; reheat leftovers gently.