Mimi's Tea Cottage, West Chester, PA

After a 2 hour jaunt east on the PA turnpike, we arrived at Mimi's Tea Cottage located downtown in the college community of West Chester, PA. Mimi's Tea Cottage is celebrating their second year anniversary, and we were excited to have finally made the journey to this young tea room.

The seating area is divided into two sections, we were seated on the left side with the beautiful chandelier. We admired their casual chic decor and the comfy padded seats.

Lovely folded rose napkins were tucked in the teacups.

Once we each selected our teas, assorted teapots were brought to the table.

The menu changes monthly, although we were there on the first weekend of August, we actually had the July menu as it was being served one last time for the weekend. In addition to your tea flavor, there are decisions to be made on the menu. The starter and the scones have different options. The first course included a choice of Mushroom Soup, or Sundried Tomato & Feta Quiche with a side salad. We all selected the Quiche.

Once we finished with the quiche, the three tiered tray was presented. Laden with sandwiches, scones, and mini desserts, the tiered tray is always a sight to behold.

The sandwich selection included Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad, Cucumber Dill Finger, Cinnamon Walnut Cream Cheese on Banana Bread, and Ham and Brie with Blackberry Jam. We enjoyed all the sandwiches and liked the surprise of a sandwich on banana bread.

The scone course included options. We had to choose between a Peach Cardamom Scone (shown here), Blueberry Scone, or Chocolate Chip Scone. Susanna and Nancy selected the Peach Cardamom while Angelica opted for the Chocolate Chip Scone. Although only one scone was served, it was a generous size. They were served with a small portion of cream and curd. Strawberry preserves could be added for an additional fee.

The dessert medley included Crumb Cake, Smore's Tartlet, Blueberry Cream Puff and Peach Tartlet. The bitesize portions were perfect with the variety served. At one point during our visit, Susanna mentioned that it was Nancy's birthday celebration and the waitress surprised her with a miniature cupcake complete with candle in a teacup. 

Here's to tearoom celebrations and birthdays!

MATBA Gathering at the Doehrn Tea Company, Oxford, MD

The Quarterly Meeting of the Mid Atlantic Tea Business Association was recently held at the Doehrn Tea Company in Oxford, MD on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Owner Monika Mraz operates her tea business from her home where you can purchase teas on most Fridays. You can also find her vending tea at the Easton's Farmer Market on Saturdays.

After our morning reception, we were introduced to Tricia King, owner of  "The Gluten-Free Bakery Girl". Tricia shared her knowledge about gluten free baking and offered suggestions for hosting an afternoon tea that caters to the gluten free diet. In addition, she touched on vegan baking. Following the program, we were served a Gluten Free/Vegan Afternoon Tea. We were welcomed to Monika’s home where tables were set up in preparation for our specialty tea. The menu was placed at each seat.

Members were able to select their teas from an extensive collection. Shown here is a delightful Chunmee, a refreshing Chinese green tea. The first course featured Gazpacho, a flavorful chilled tomato soup. This is always a good choice on a hot summer day.

The tiered tray held a variety of sweet and savory gluten free and vegan options. Seated at another table are members Susanna Reppert from The Rosemary House (PA), Deb Raab from Tea-for-All (NJ) and Cindy Washburn from Oxford Hall Celtic Shop and Café (PA).

The sandwiches included  a Cucumber Sandwich, A White Bean and Artichoke Spread with tomato and lettuce, and a Dolma, a grape leaf stuffed with seasoned rice and veggies.

The gluten free scone was served with whipped 'cream', and petite jars of orange marmalade or strawberry jam. Fresh strawberries garnished the plate.

The dessert medley included a Petite Chocolate Whoppie Pie and an Almond Tea Cake. Lemon Sorbet with fresh blueberries was served as its own course.

 Following our tea, a business meeting took place. Members headed back home after a very  tasty and informative session with plans to attend the next quarterly meeting to be held at Tea for All in Trenton, NJ in October.

Honey Still for Tea, Shippensburg, PA

Honey Still for Tea is a monthly pop-up offering an authentic English Afternoon Tea experience held at a local bakery, Jane's Art of Pie Café in Shippensburg. Tea dates are announced on their Facebook page, typically two months in advance. As it is a small location, the dates fill quickly. We were greeted by the owner and offered a complimentary glass of Prosecco Rose or a sparkling non-alcoholic beverage.

Cheers to teatime!

Although the tea selections were limited, there was a range of choices including a plain black tea, the ever-popular Earl Grey, an orange cinnamon herbal, and a decaffeinated black. 

Once tea was served, the tiered tray was presented. It's a family affair as the owner's daughter and her grandson were the waitstaff for the day we were there.

Just the girls at tea.

The assortment of Sandwiches and Savouries included Egg Mayonnaise with watercress on wholewheat, Sausage Roll (crisp flaky pastry filled with seasoned sausage), Coronation Chicken on Whole Wheat, Herb and Garlic Goat's Cheese with Beetroot on White Bread.

The middle tier held English Fruit Scones served with Wild Blueberry Preserves. Printed on the menu.... English tea without scones? Unthinkable! Spread cream first, then add jam... or jam then cream! It's an age-old argument between the English counties of Devon and Cornwall!) 

And the top tier, the Sweet Selection, featured Lemon Eton Mess, described as billowy lemon cream with crispy meringue, a new English summer favourite, a Fruit Tart, light pastry base, filled with Creme Patissier and Fresh Fruit, and chocolate Shortbread, in house made, now famous, shortbread, drizzled with dark chocolate.

The name of the tearoom is derived from a famous 1912 poem by Rupert Brooke, renowned poet and soldier, titled "The Old Vicarage, Grantchester". In the poem, Brooke expressed his feeling of homesickness while in Berlin in 1912. He expounded on the essence of his beloved Grantchester in Cambridgeshire, from the landscape to the culture and everything in between. The very last few lines of the poem read "Stands the Church clock at ten to three? And Is There Honey Still for Tea?” 

 

Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea

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.

Strawberries & Almond Cream

A recent dessert offered during our Strawberry Afternoon Tea included fresh berries piped with almond cream. This yummy cream filling is delicious and decorative piped into the berry, or simply served over top of sliced berries. Enjoy the bounty of fresh summer berries with this special almond cream topping.

Strawberries and Almond Cream

1 - 3-1/2 oz. box instant vanilla pudding and pie filling

1 c. milk

1 c. heavy cream, whipped

1 tsp. almond extract

2 pints large strawberries, washed, hulled, halved OR, 

wash, remove the hull by slicing the berries so they sit flat, make a cross cut into the pointy end of the berries, but don't cut all the way thru. Gently pry the berries open and pipe the filling into the berry.

Prepare instant pudding as package directs but decrease milk to 1 c. only. Gently fold whipped cream and almond extract into prepared pudding. Served with prepared strawberries

 

Celebrating the Strawberry Moon

The Strawberry Full Moon in June prompted a strawberry themed afternoon tea. A menu laden with fresh sweet berries was on tap for the day. Starting with a pretty garland of red berries surrounding the tea list for the day, and lush berries printed on the menu. We offered a variety of flavored strawberry teas that included Chocolate Strawberry, our popular Blue Lady which has strawberry, kiwi, and coconut flavors, along with Eight Treasures which features pineapple and strawberry in a green tea base.

The first course was a yummy chilled Strawberry Soup garnished with thinly sliced strawberries, a dab of whipped cream, and a fresh mint leaf. Special thanks to friend Gail for the perfectly coordinated strawberry tea cozy. She has been gifting me with a tea cozy of the month, and June didn't disappoint. 

The sandwiches included a Strawberry Chicken Salad on Hawaiian Bread, a "Full Moon" Parmesan cheese toast, a Glazed Strawberry and Honey Bruschetta,  the petite tart shell held Strawberry Creamed Honey and Mascarpone, and our popular Sweet 'n Savory Strawberry Cheese on Pumpernickel.

A yummy Strawberry Drop Scone was served alongside the Traditional English Cream Scone with Sweet Cream and Strawberry Butter and a touch of fresh fruit.

The dessert trio included a Strawberry Jam cake topped with strawberry jam frosting, a Cardamom Sugar Cookie, and a ripe red berry filled with Almond Cream.

The 2025 Strawberry Moon was full around June 11th. According to several  Native American tribes that live in the northeastern Unite States, it marks the ripening of  'June bearing' strawberries that are ready to be harvested. 

Afternoon Tea at the Kate Pearl Tea Room, Sykesville, MD

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 .