A short journey south took us to the
Kate Pearl Tea Room in Sykesville, MD where we met with a longtime family friend to enjoy afternoon tea. There seemed to be a buzz of activity in Sykesville on this Saturday afternoon, but we were quite content to spend our time in this quaint tea room.
This sweet place setting with ornate golden utensils and a rose folded napkin greeted us when we sat down. There was a list of four floral teas on the table, and the hostess brought two of the teas to our table.
Once settled, a colorful charcuterie board was offered. It held assorted fresh fruit; oranges, watermelon, blueberries and pineapple, along with sliced cheeses, crackers and pretzels. It was a sweet and savory way to begin our afternoon tea.
Our hostess brought each of us a plated white chocolate chip scone. A little dish of cream and jelly was offered to pass among each of us.
A petite colorful fresh salad, perfectly dressed was presented promptly followed by a small bowl of chilled fruit soup.
A refreshing spritzer in a champagne glass was next up. The menu was from The Royal Tea and included all these different courses. It was always a fun surprise to see what was served next.
Tea time with family and friends is always the best time.
The tiered tray was laden with a wide assortment of sandwich and petite sweet treats.
The sandwich assortment included a miniature panini with ham and melted cheese, fresh fruit garnish, a pear-honey-and-goat cheese crostini, a flower sandwich topped cucumber and strawberry, and a roll with turkey and raspberry jam.
The dessert medley included a raspberry lemon mousse, a lavender macaron, and double chocolate biscotti. The tea ended with a refreshing lemon sorbet topped with an edible pearl.
Please note: there are two Kate Pearl Tea Rooms, this one in Sykesville, and the original one in Westminster, MD. Our tea association held one of our meetings at The Kate Pearl Tea Room in 2019. We shared our experience in this
blog post .
Our Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea celebrating all things lavender in a delicious array of sweets and savories has quickly become a popular annual event. The menu and the tea list adorned with lavender graphic in shades of purple and violet quietly announced what was to come throughout the tea. Sprigs of long stemmed fresh lavender were tucked in the fragrant herbal centerpieces.
The fresh salad featured mixed salad greens topped with summer berries; strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, dressed with Blueberry Lavender Balsamic Dressing and dusted with Feta cheese. A refreshing Lavender Mint Spritzer accompanied the first course. 
The tea plate held a variety of sandwiches. Savory baked Lavender Artichoke Squares were served warm. A triangular Cucumber Sandwich with herbed cream cheese offered a fresh taste from the garden. The petite Lavender Blueberry Muffin was topped with a cream cheese rosebud. Sliced Turkey with lavender honey butter was the other triangular sandwich. An Apple Brie Crostini with a Lavender Honey Drizzle completed the plate. There was a crystallized long stem sprig of lavender as garnish. The candied sprig provided a bold punch of lavender flavor! 
A Lavender Sage Golden Raisin Scone was served with Sweet Cream and Raspberry Curd. The Fresh Fruit was served with a lavender honey dip. To make the lavender honey dip, simply blend 5 Tbsp. of lavender honey (available at the Rosemary House) with 2 c. of sour cream. Mix well and serve with strawberries, grapes, and other fruits suitable for dipping.
A trio of lavender desserts included a Petite Cheesecake topped with Lavender Lemon Curd and a pinch of dried lavender blossoms, a Lavender Mint Shortbread Cookie, and a White Cake with Chocolate Lavender Frosting. It was a yummy conclusion to the 2025 Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea.
