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”!
The Tea
What better way to celebrate friendship than spending time with a gal pal in a quaint, cozy tearoom? It’s perfect for a Galentine’s Day outing with your bestie, for other holidays and special occasions, or “just because.” I love tea, and I love to spend time with dear friends. What a perfect combination!
I was so excited to visit the Triple Crown Bakery in charming Franklin, Tennessee, with a dear friend, Karen, who I affectionately call Karen #2, and partake in their tea and coffee service. Located in downtown Franklin, in a historic house off the square, the bakery presented an array of cookies, cakes, pies, and other sweets and savories when I entered the front door. Of course, we went for the tea service and were not disappointed by the assortment of teas on display – and coffees for those who prefer coffee – and knew we were in for a real treat. Tea service included multiple varieties of teas, and wanting to stick with my “tried and true,” I settled for lovely black tea for my first two cups and finished with a white jasmine tea to go along with the cookie included in the tea service. This was a limited-service, quick, and casual tea, so I chose a few additional items from the pastry case that caught my eye. I munched on a ham and cheese quiche and took home a flourless chocolate souffle cake, wanting to take home so much more! My friend enjoyed an assortment of teas and brought home a bag of goodies with her, too.
While the food and drink were fantastic, so was the fellowship. After a long week, my friend and I relaxed in this beautifully decorated bakery, eagerly sharing life updates, laughter, and conversations that come with great friendship. There were moments we didn’t speak at all, mesmerized by the walls which held tons of black and white wedding photos of couples posing with their wedding cakes, some famous (think Elvis and Priscilla) and some that I didn’t recognize but looked so happy on their big day. Plates and cups adorned other walls, the mantel, the chandelier, and other nooks and crannies. And the bathroom? Let’s say it was precious with wallpaper that had “walking cakes” (i.e., cakes with various legs adorned with stockings and high heels) as we soaked it all in and enjoyed each other’s company. As much as I loved my tea, sweets, and savories, wow, was it great to escape life with a good friend and laugh about the interesting wallpaper in the bathroom after we finished trying to decide what kind of cake Elvis and Priscilla had beneath those layers of icing.
The Tidbit
“Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things.” Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist.
I got so much more out of my day than tea and pastries. I had an opportunity to connect with a dear friend after a long and busy week. Like most, we both have busy and demanding jobs, plenty of responsibilities outside of work, and never enough hours to do it all. What was I thinking about taking an hour and a half roundtrip to drive for a couple of cups of tea and pastries and sitting and relaxing for hours (GASP!)? I returned with the task list still there but with a renewed mind and spirit, and I felt mentally and physically energized. Our visit reminded me of the power of friendship and how valuable it is to connect with others.
We didn’t talk about anything earth-shattering and didn’t solve the world’s problems. We talked about a million little things, and boy, did it feel good! It had been a while since we had seen each other, but it didn’t matter. The ties that bind us will always keep us connected, no matter how many days or weeks go by between visits or conversations. That is the beauty of friendship! I wrote an article two years ago this month about the power of relationships, including how they can positively impact our health. Take a peek if you would like to learn more about the science behind it. Connect with a treasured friend and see for yourself how you feel!
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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
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Enjoy the journey, the tea, and the amazing friendships in your life!
Tea and happiness always,
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