I’m a coffee drinker; but the idea of a full British tea is so appealing to me today that I find myself daydreaming of cucumber sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, and delicate china teacups. This morning, I Googled “authentic British tea near me.”
Since I live in central Kentucky, the results were minimal as one might expect. My town boasts two tea shops, Olive’s Apron and Tea and Brie. Olive’s Apron is an adorable bakeshop located in a renovated house near the railroad tracks. Its pale green siding and gingerbread trim shelter a cluster of dollhouse-sized dining rooms. The manager hosts small tea parties (reservations required) and serves to-go cookies in boxes that happen to be the perfect shade of pink. I’ve purchased pastries from Olive’s Apron as gifts for friends, almost (but not quite) as much for the pink bakery box as for the goodies inside.
Tea and Brie, located downtown, in a storefront festooned with swags of cottage roses has only been in town for two years. The newish shop, with its hardwoods waxed until they glisten, is much pricier; but their online menu features pictures of crustless sandwiches, artistically-arranged fruit tarts, and gorgeous tea sets so fragile as to almost appear see-through. If the actual food lives up to the photos, the higher prices are justified.
What’s stopping me? Do I have anything suitable to wear for afternoon tea? Are olive-nut sandwiches and English biscuits enough to sidetrack me from my current weight-loss journey? Will one of my friends agree to accompany me for a spot of tea on this hot and muggy afternoon? We shall see. Or, perhaps, I should fix myself an iced coffee and read another chapter of Beth Brower’s Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion.
The older I get, the more I remind myself of my beloved Granny who often took on a British accent when reading a British mystery. Here I am, longing for afternoon tea because a book made it seem so appealing.
9 responses to “Fancy a Cuppa?”
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Lori,
I’m a coffee and not a hot tea drinker, but I do love tea ceremonies when I travel. We’ve experienced tea ceremonies in China and Japan but not in Great Britain. I’m a bit wary of trying one locally.-
Glenda, I think it’s wonderful that you’ve enjoyed tea ceremonies on your travels. I went through a tea phase a few years ago; but I came right back to coffee. This book series is tempting me back to tea and all its rituals (especially scones).
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So much fun to travel with you to these two local tea shops! II would give each one a try for the sheer adventure of it all (diet be damned). I just looked up the Lion book…shouldn’t I say books?! Holy Moly, eight volumes. You’ll be craving a lot of tea. Enjoy whatever beverage suits you, and biscuits; there is always room for biscuits!
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The Emma M. Lion series has been a worthwhile commitment. If you are an Anne of Green Gables fan, I highly recommend it – so many similarities. I should have added in my slice that, of course, tea time snacks are enough to detour me from my weight-loss journey. A half-unwrapped Hershey kiss in the bottom of my Christmas purse is enough to derail me. Haha!
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I like how you made us wait for the name of the book- books. Im going to be looking them up.
Love the descriptions as you evaluate your two high-tea options. I think I’ve been to high tea only once, at a fancy hotel. I can’t even remember who took me there, but I sure do remember the food and the tea. It’s where I learned that I make tea all wrong!
I enjoyed your little escape into this I fantasy, but I do think you should choose one and go. Find a friend who will appreciate it with you.-
My best friend and I are buddy reading the Emma M. Lion series by Beth Brower. Set in 1880s London, Emma and her friends are always having tea. We are making reservations for Tea and Brie. I’ll have to report back!
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I have some friends who made reservations and attended an afternoon tea. They couldn’t say enough about how much they enjoyed it.
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My friend and I have decided to make reservations for Tea and Brie. She’s still working, though; so we’ll have to wait for her to have a day off.
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Lori, fun, fun! I am a definite hot tea fan. I grew to love tea, especially spicy/milky tea when I lived in the Middle East. My daughter took me to a tea party like you describe once for Mother’s Day. It was very special and delicious. I do encourage you to go. The two shops in your own community sound lovely! Then again, I smiled at your ending to just drink another cup of coffee and read your British book.
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