By Karen Gutierrez
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Megan Hance, 11, a fifth grader at Piner Elementary School, sips hot chocolate at a formal tea at the school. (Patrick Reddy photo)

MORNING VIEW - Hobert Strange is a cop. He's not used to cream scones and biscotti.

But there he was last week, eating finger foods and sipping Earl Grey during a tea party at Piner Elementary School in Kenton County.

Tea is big these days. Even police officers and schoolchildren are getting into it - albeit with a little trouble.

"You put it on your saucer," coached Evelyn Hance, another guest, when she saw Strange's teabag lying crudely on his food plate. "You don't want to get your biscotti wet."

Strange laughed. "Gee whiz," he said, "I didn't know this would be so stressful."

Tea sipping, of course, is known for having the opposite effect, which is one reason it's getting so much attention lately.

A new magazine called Tea Time touts the pleasures of linens, china, good conversation and a fine brew. People like Hance, who has a large collection of china, find themselves being asked to throw tea parties for community groups.

And the Internet is bringing tea fans together through Web sites like tea.meetup.com.

Finneytown resident Clint Miller, 30, posted a message to the site, seeking gatherings of tea lovers in Greater Cincinnati. He recently has gotten into the gourmet kinds that must be ordered by mail.

"It's kind of a meditational thing to sit down and have a cup with a good aroma and a good taste," Miller says.

No wonder a tea party seemed like the perfect way to honor alumni of Piner Elementary, a tiny public school in close-knit Morning View, about 25 minutes south of Cincinnati.

Until 1937, a high school stood on the site, and many graduates still live in the area.

They donate money for school programs, and last week, about 12 of them attended a tea-party thank you.

Parent Rosie Allen gave a talk on the health benefits of tea.

Hance, who has three grandchildren at the school, made delicacies such as lime curd and strawberry butter.

Five girls were the servers. Between duties, they daintily sipped hot cocoa and nibbled on chocolate-covered oranges. They felt very grownup.

So, will kids ever get into tea?

The panel of experts looked doubtful.

"It tastes weird," said Megan Hance, 11. "Coffee is my big thing."

E-mail kgutierrez@enquirer.com