There’s way more to making a cup of tea than dangling a tea bag in hot water. A proper English tea involves steeping tea leaves to create a full flavored drink which is then strained into your cup.

“When I first came to America, the tea was a shock. I went to a diner and the waitress brings me a cup with tepid water in it and a tea bag,” remembered Sally Stansfield, who grew up in England and moved to the United States about 20 years ago.

“I put my tea bag in water and swirled it around,” she said. “I politely didn’t say anything; English people are very polite. English people won’t drink tea out.”

The tea she will be serving at her event is a loose leaf called Assam.

Stansfield said she wants to help people experience a “proper English tea and learn the secrets of the tea” at a Tea and Scones with the Brit Lady event planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Top Floor Events. There will be room for about 100 attendees, who will enjoy fresh tea, homemade scones, tarts and finger sandwiches.

Stansfield, an artist who offers art classes, will also demonstrate making scones and tell stories, many of them humorous, of growing up in England.

“We’ll have clotted cream,” she added. “It’s a special cream that is very slowly cooked. It’s super dense and thick. Once you’ve had clotted cream, you would dream about it.”

Brian Crabb, who owns Top Floor Events, will make finger sandwiches, lemon curd, tartlets, scones and homemade jam for the event.

“This will be a wonderful mother-daughter event,” Stansfield said. “I’ve had people say they will be coming dressed up in Downtown Abby-style with the dress and the hat.”

Registration and prepayment is required. For more information contact Stansfield at sallylovesart@gmail.com or by calling her at 973-670-3320.