While I can surely appreciate history, I am not good with memorizing dates and facts. I never cared for history class, and I can’t say I retained much, or any of the information presented in those classes throughout high school and college. However, I do enjoy a good historical fiction novel or period film or television series. I must say that all of my knowledge of anything having to do with the British Monarchy or the Jacobite’s in Scotland has been derived completely from books and television. Honestly, I don’t know why they don’t (or didn’t) use more of this type of media to engage students in the stories of history.
Shawn might say that I have a small obsession with all things British Monarchy. He is mostly wrong; it’s really the intrigue of all those crazy relationships that interest me! However, I think it is the link to tradition and history that intrigues me about a proper afternoon tea.
To support this theory, I did some googling and realized that the full afternoon tea is a fairly young tradition in Britain, only begun in the 1800’s. But that’s old enough for me to believe that it is a time honored cultural experience.
Yea, that.
It could also be the fancy tea cups and plates, and the properness of it all that I find so appealing. The tendency to think you should be dressed up and wearing gloves, and using a, well, British accent or something.
When Shawn and I were in London, about twelve years ago or so, we had a traditional afternoon tea in a local tea shop. It was before my appreciation for British history, so I’d love to go back and experience it again now. (Despite Shawn’s detailed itinerary, we cannot remember the name, so we must have gone off course that day -gasp!)
No worries – I have found some closer to home options!!
Very near to us, in a completely unexpected neighborhood on a fairly busy road in Upper Darby, Pa, there is a beautiful and authentic tea shop, The Painted Tea Cup. It moved from a small store front across from its current location to a three story home, complete with unique gifts and rooms to explore. When I first visited, in its first home, I fell in love. Now, in a proper space for the experience, it is even better. Sadly, I don’t go nearly as much as I would like to. And to be honest I always forget that they have a full selection of interesting gifts. Come to think of it, I am in the market for a gift for someone right now. I’ll have to make a visit there soon!
Recently, Shawn’s aunt invited my daughter and me to join her and some other family members at another tea shop. This is a shop that I have heard about, but never visited. It is not far from us, but with The Painted Tea Cup so close, I wouldn’t have necessarily driven further away for a similar experience. Now that I had a specific reason to go, I was excited to check it out and now that I have been, I will be sure to return.
A Taste of Britain, located in Wayne, Pa, is not just a place to experience a full afternoon tea. There is a small gift shop, a counter to buy some of the baked goods and spreads so you can take them home to enjoy (which I recommend you do, unlike me, otherwise you will regret it as I have done) and they have a full menu of teas, food, and tea service options. I still love The Painted Tea Cup, but now I know that there are two relatively close options for this unique experience.
During our visit, Shawn’s aunt and I both had the full tea service, which comes with a pot of tea, and an assortment of sweet and savory scones, pastries, finger sandwiches, and spreads – like lemon curd and clotted cream.
The scones were amazing. And if you know me, you know I love scones.
One of Shawn’s cousins, who lived in England when we visited there, was with us and said that the tea service was ‘legit’. She was only a young kid when she left England to return to the United States, but I don’t doubt her. It seemed pretty legit to me.
There is something about coming to the table with food, drink, family and friends that is comforting to me. Perhaps it is my Italian heritage where sharing food with others is a particular cultural phenomenon, but I tend to think it is something many cultures value. Perhaps if more people sat down to tea together, the world would be more peaceful. (Ignore Shawn’s historical commentary on how this is a sham and would never work, and in fact has not worked as of yet).
Regardless, one thing is for sure, YOU should get yourself to one of these tea houses and enjoy the wonderful experience of a Full Afternoon Tea.
