The Tea Garden

         After strolling the gardens, why not enjoy a little civilized refreshment in our tea room?

For 2024, the schedule is that we will  be serving teas on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 11:00 to 3:30. Reservations are strongly recommended, please reserve online or call us by 24 hours ahead.  If the online calendar appears fully booked, feel free to call us, we’ll try to fit you in! In lieu of a full service tea, or if you cannot reserve a table, we now have some takeout options for drinks and baked goods, which you can take into the back garden.

The Tea Room will be open from May 30 to September 21, 2024

The Tea Garden  is open summer afternoons roughly from Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 11:00 to 3:30, Thursday through Sunday. In 2023, we are from June 1 through September 23. Teas are served in the flower garden, under a covered porch or, when the weather is inclement, in a little plant-filled conservatory. Reservations for tea are strongly recommended(please see below).

Tea is a delightful and affordable way to entertain friends, and is a memorable way to celebrate events and gentle occasions such as engagement and graduation parties, bridal and baby showers, and retirement parties. Combined with the pretty and educational display gardens, it makes a fine outing for any garden club, and is a perfect venue for Red Hat Society ladies to strut their stuff! For groups of 8 or larger, please contact us.  Directions and Map

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Serving Cream Teas since 1985

Sometime in the mid-80s, Rachel and Judith were returning from a long summer drive and combined their voices in the usual moan about the desperate need for tea. Couldn’t we have just “murdered a cup!”, said Judith, a true Britisher. “If only there was a good tea room – any tea room, for that matter, that could provide us with that precious liquid refreshment that allows life to flourish?” Judith decided then and there that she’s have to do it herself, open her own tea room, and so she did, operating out of the old summer kitchen, and serving tea and scones out in the flower garden. Since then, we have served many a pot, and baked many a scone, and aimed to provide a welcome and relaxing experience to thousands of people. (Judith Kane herself oversaw her tea room through 2016, and was a popular (and not infrequently cheeky) figure to her fans, but sadly passed away on May 22, 2017. )

Tea Dates in 2024

May 12 – Mother’s Day Tea – by reservation.

May 30, Thursday – opening for the season. Henceforth Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the summer.

September 21 will be the last open day for the Tea Room in 2024.

The Tea Room Menu

Tea comes first, and the old English adage “take the pot to the kettle, not the kettle to the pot” is our motto. Here you will find tea made with boiling water, steeped and served in a china pot.

The tea list includes choices of black, green and herbal teas, including classics such as English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Lapsang Souchong as well as more unusual types, such as Rooibos (Red Bush), Vanilla Honeybush and Shou Mei White Tea. Naturally, we also make coffee for those desiring a stronger brew, served in a press pot. For cold drinks, you can try iced tea, coffee or lemonade. Feel free to order different teas, or fresh refills, all of our drinks are unlimited!

The British-style scones are made fresh here at the brick house, following Judith’s tried and true recipe. The scones are served with freshly whipped cream, and homemade strawberry jam. Cucumber-herb sandwiches are made to order, and sprinkled with freshly cut apple mint. A rotating selection of sweet treats are on offer, such as Lemon Bars, Raspberry Bakewell Tart or Chocolate Date Bars. For parties and events, we can prepare special menus and cakes. For those with special diets or gluten intolerance, we usually have options, but please give us advance notice.

In 2024 we will be serving a set menu Full English Cream Tea. This consists of unlimited scones, served with freshly whipped cream and homemade strawberry jam, cucumber-herb sandwiches, and a little sweet bite, plus endless pots of tea or iced drinks, your choice. The price is $21.00 per adult plus tax and tip or $27 if you’d like to include 9% tax and 18% tip. (Child rates are $16 for 12 and under,  5 and under $8.00. No charge for toddlers.) Prices are per person, and unfortunately, guests may not ‘share’ teas this year. We look forward to seeing you here this summer!

Reservations for Tea are Recommended

You may now make a reservation online through this website. Otherwise, please call 802-472-5104, or to get on a waiting list. Even if our online booking calendar looks full, we can often fit you in, so do feel free to call. Thank you for your patience!

What is a Cream Tea?

Cream Tea is simply an afternoon repast, which invariably includes scones and cream. Afternoon Tea is the same thing. For those of you who wonder, a High Tea is something quite different, more on the lines of a simple working-class supper than a raised pinkie affair with cakes and dainties.

 

Inside tea seating in the little greenhouse

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