Hydrangea Tea Cottage and Gifts - MATBA April Seminar

Members of the Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association traveled to Pottsville, PA to attend the April meeting held at Hydrangea Cottage Tea & Gifts. Owner and fellow MATBA member Erik Tice welcomed a group of entrepreneurs to his tearoom and gift shop. After some shopping, and before we sat down for tea, we were encouraged to select a teacup from the collection on display.

We enjoyed the intimacy of a smaller group at this gathering and thus we were seated around a large dining room table on the second floor. The gift shop occupies the first floor, and spills over onto the second floor where we were seated in the front parlor.

The menu was placed at each seat and announced a delicious assortment of goodies yet to come.

First up, we were served an Apricot and Almond Scone with clotted cream and apricot preserves.

Following the scone course, we enjoyed a warm cup of Spring Minestrone Soup topped with croutons.

Pedestaled cake plates filled with tea sandwiches and a fresh pansy garnish were brought to the table next. The sandwich selection included Truffled Egg Salad, Cucumber with Lime & Dill Aioli, and Ham with Green Tea Cream Cheese Spread. The sandwiches were petite, but each guest received two of each variety.

The colorful and tasty dessert medley included a frosted Pineapple Cookie, a Peanut Butter Snickers Bar, and Lemon Cake.

Erik made certain that our teacups were filled with the teas of the day which included Monks Meditation (a Ceylon black tea with catnip, grenadine flavor and calendula petals) and Beatrix Potter (a caffeine-free blend of green rooibos, rosehips, strawberry flavor, chamomile, spearmint and lemongrass).

Hydrangea Cottage Tea and Gifts is celebrating their fifth year in business. Their gift shop includes teas from Piper & Leaf Tea Company and Simpson & Vail Teas. They have soaps, marmalades, candles, dip mixes and more. In addition, they offer artwork from local artists. Tea is served on the third Saturday and Sunday of the month, by reservation only. 

Susanna Reppert Brill of The Rosemary House (PA) presented a program on The Ins and Outs of Selling Herbal or Functional Teas. Following the program, during the business meeting, outgoing president Karen Donnelly of Greenhalgh Teas, (PA) welcomed newly elected president Melissa Fitch-Ciccotelli of Tea You There (MD) to the helm. Karen has presided over the Association for the past four years. Melissa has accepted the role of president for the upcoming two year term.