3rd Thursday Tea - Exquisite Chocolates, Carlisle, PA

Exquisite Chocolates, billed as purveyors of life's finest pleasures, has started serving 3rd Thursday Teas/luncheons once a month in their shop. Eager to experience this new tea time location, we journeyed to Carlisle (a mere 20 minutes away) for an afternoon tea time getaway. 

The tables, set up in the rear of the chocolate shop, were set in matching china and green napkins since spring has sprung. Today's menu was tucked underneath the place setting. 

Before the tea service began, our hostess greeted the group and presented coupons from the catering company, Tastebuds Personal Chef Services.

The tea list, offering a variety of Rishi Teas, features herbals and teas. Nancy selected an organic Sencha Tea a first and second flush harvest from the organic farms on Kyushu Island in southern Japan. It is a pleasant green tea with a vegetal/ grassy flavor to it. Susanna selected the Peach Hibiscus Green tea described as a luscious red hibiscus and juicy peaches with naturally sweet, roasted Japanese green tea with a slightly fruity sweet flavor. Once we selected our tea flavor, an individual pot of hot water and tea bag were provided.

The first course was an Irish Vegetable Soup. It was a creamy root vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, leeks, parsnips, and broccoli garnished with freshly snipped chives. It was warm, hearty, thick, and tasty.

Shortly after the soup was served, the two tiered tray was placed on the table. Two types of sandwiches and petite desserts were on the tier.

The bottom tier held two types of sandwiches, and we were able to enjoy two of each sandwich. There was a triangular Rueben Tea Sandwich made with corned beef, swiss cheese and pickled cabbage on marbled rye. The other sandwich was a St. Patty's Day Cucumber Tea Sandwich served on Irish Soda Bread. Kerrygold Chive butter was spread on the soda bread. 

A small scoop of Blood Orange Sorbet was served after the sandwiches. This was smooth, and very refreshing.

And rounding out the tea was an Irish Pea Salad. The salad was served on a fresh Romaine leaf and was made with fresh peas, onion, sweet peppers and mixed with an herbed yogurt dressing.

The top tier of the tray held a Pistachio Macaron and a Pepita topped artisanal chocolate. They provided a sweet treat to end our teatime. Visit their website to learn about upcoming teas and luncheons.

And, who can go to a chocolate shop without picking out some exquisite chocolates to enjoy at home? A small blue box gaily tied with a bow held a  citrus rosemary chocolate, a large peanut butter truffle, and two milk chocolate salted caramels rounded out this little sampler pack to be enjoyed as a midnight snack.