Last year, I marked my birthday in the most delightful way. I spent the afternoon tucked into a cozy corner at Troll House Cottage right here at home in Nashville, Tennessee, sharing tea and laughter with a dear friend. There’s something about that charming space, with its whimsical touches and inviting atmosphere, that makes time feel softer, slower. Over a pot of tea, the outside world faded, and we found ourselves savoring not just the treats on the table, but the gift of unhurried conversation. Sometimes, the sweetest celebrations aren’t grand or elaborate, they’re simply moments when we pause long enough to truly enjoy them.
Built in the late 1920s, the cottage is one of the oldest homes in Davidson County, and over the decades it became a beloved local landmark. Tucked behind it sits a log cabin that once served as a neighborhood schoolhouse, adding yet another layer to its story. In recent years, the cottage was lovingly revived and transformed, keeping its vintage charm while infusing it with a whimsical woodland aesthetic. Inside, each room feels like a treasure hunt with cozy spaces filled with locally made gifts and crafts, lush greenery and plants, and curated vintage finds. The kitchen now hums with the aroma of homemade sweets and Southern-inspired treats, making it a place where history, flavor, and creativity converge. What a perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon or a fanciful escape and that’s just what we did!
Our table, adorned with flowers and intentionally mismatched china full of character and uniqueness, was soon graced with a three-tiered tray that was as pretty as it was tempting. There were savory layers of sharp cheddar and smoked gouda grilled cheese on toasted sourdough, creamy pimento cheese, and a “cluckin’” good chicken salad piled onto toasted Ezekiel bread. The sweets were just as enticing with rich brownies, delicate orange blossom muffins, jewel-like fruit tarts, and tender biscuits with hot pepper raspberry jam, a playful twist on the traditional scone. But the true centerpiece was the tea itself. Here, guests choose their brew in the most delightful way by browsing a shelf lined with mason jars of loose-leaf blends from High Garden, a local tea company focused on sustainability and herbal wisdom. We began by selecting the ones that caught our eye, then breathing in the fragrant aromas while reading the poetic descriptions on each label until the perfect match revealed itself. From that first pour to the last sip, the tea became more than a beverage – it was an experience, steeped in connection and quiet joy.
The Tidbit: A Sip of Science – How Tea Helps Us Wind Down
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“Any day can be the perfect day to pause, savor, and let life steep a little more slowly.” Cindy Chafin
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It turns out, slowing down with a cup of tea isn’t just soothing, it’s beneficial. Studies have found that six weeks of regular black tea consumption can lead to lower post-stress cortisol levels and greater feelings of relaxation after stressful tasks (Steptoe et al., 2007). Green tea, rich in the amino acid L-theanine, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety while promoting calm alertness (Bryan, 2008). Even a single cup can help ease the body’s physical response to stress.
Herbal varieties bring their own unique benefits—lavender tea has been linked to reduced anxiety in older adults (Kianpour et al., 2016), and chamomile contains apigenin, a compound associated with calming effects (Amsterdam et al., 2009). Meanwhile, specialty blends such as GABA-fortified oolong may decrease immediate stress and support heart rate variability, an indicator of a relaxed nervous system (Okada et al., 2019).
In short: whether through the chemistry of compounds like L-theanine or the simple act of slowing down, tea offers both ritual and research-backed calm—making every moment indulging in tea all the more restorative.
While my visit to Troll House Cottage happened to be a birthday treat, it doesn’t take a special occasion to carve out time for something this nourishing. In fact, research suggests that the simple ritual of making and enjoying tea can help reduce stress—both from the calming compounds in certain teas and from the act of slowing down to sip. Our “Cottage Tea” was a gentle reminder of that truth. Between the warm mugs in our hands, the unhurried conversation, and the whimsical charm all around us, we found ourselves not just enjoying an afternoon out but truly unwinding. It’s a reminder that any day can be the perfect day to pause, savor, and let life steep a little more slowly.
Finding Tearooms
As a Nashville native and one who has resided in middle Tennessee all my life, I am starting local with my adventures shared through our new Tea and Tidbits column. Still, I also want to share great resources to find your local spots for tea so that wherever you find yourself, you can track down a lovely tearoom and take a moment for yourself. Check out the websites below and enjoy wherever your journey may take you! You might also find tea service in places other than a traditional tearoom, like what I discovered in a local bakery.
Below are several resources to help you find tearooms in the United States:
- Destination Tea: They offer a directory of tearooms by state, allowing you to browse and find venues that provide cream tea, afternoon tea, high tea, or tea ceremonies. You can explore their website www.destinationtea.com.
- Great Tearooms of America: This growing directory lists over two thousand tea rooms nationwide. You can search by name or zip code to find tearooms near you. Check out their directory at www.greattearoomsofamerica.com.
- AfternoonTeaing: This site lists the best places for afternoon tea in the USA, including elegant hotels and cozy tea rooms. You can find more information on the website at www.afternoonteaing.com.
Enjoy the journey, the tea, and the amazing friendships in your life!
Tea and happiness always,
References
Amsterdam, J. D., Li, Y., Soeller, I., Rockwell, K., Mao, J. J., & Shults, J. (2009). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(4), 378–382. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac935c
Bryan, J. (2008). Psychological effects of dietary components of tea: Caffeine and L-theanine. Nutrition Reviews, 66(2), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2007.00011.x
Kianpour, M., Mansouri, A., Mehrabi, T., Asghari, G., & Kelishadi, R. (2016). Effect of lavender aromatherapy on the level of anxiety in elderly patients undergoing cataract surgery. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 21(5), 379–382. https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-9066.193398
Okada, Y., Sagesaka, Y. M., Ueda, K., Niijima, A., & Nishioka, Y. (2019). Effects of GABA tea on autonomic nervous system activity and mood states in healthy adults. Frontiers in Nutrition, 6, 27. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2019.00027
Steptoe, A., Gibson, E. L., Vuononvirta, R., Williams, E. D., Hamer, M., Rycroft, J. A., & Wardle, J. (2007). The effects of tea on psychophysiological stress responsivity and post-stress recovery: A randomized double-blind trial. Psychopharmacology, 190(3), 381–389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0634-z
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About Tea and Tidbits: Welcome to Tea and Tidbits! Each quarter, our editor will share her adventures in visiting tearooms, her passion for tea, and tidbits about life, friendship, travel, and more. Whether it’s about the locale and history, interesting facts about the beverage, the sweet or savory enjoyed during her adventure, or a life tidbit, we hope you enjoy the column and find it your “cup of tea”!
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