High Tea at Secco

 Last weekend, I enjoyed a unique "High Tea" at Secco, a prosecco bar.

 

Top Tier: Earl Grey macaron and chocolate snickerdoodle cookie

Middle Tier: Savory cheese scones and sweet scones

Bottom Tier (my favourite!): Pork lumpia (egg rolls) and Honey gochujang chicken bao

 

Bottom Tier: Smoked salmon sandwich and truffle honey toast (sourdough, truffle cream cheese, chili oil, pickled shallots, prosciuotto, maldon, chive, honey)

 

Pomegranate Lavender Green Tea

 

After our tea, the server surprised us with an Ube Crème Brûlée as a birthday treat!

I loved the delicious Asian infusion afternoon tea experience and would definitely go back! 

Afternoon Tea at the RBG Tea House in the Fall

Last weekend, I had afternoon tea at the Royal Botanical Gardens' Tea House.

 

 

The "Manor Classic Tea Tower" for 3 people

 

 

I enjoyed the RBG's Royal Blend Tea, a floral rooibos blend that was inspired by the Rose Garden in Hendrie Park. 

Afternoon Tea at the Royal Botanical Gardens

Last weekend, I had afternoon tea at the Turner Pavilion Tea House in the Royal Botanical Gardens. It was a co-birthday celebration with a friend who was also born in January.

 

I love the shabby chic decor!

Since the Tea House was busy, I couldn't take photos of the other decor.

 

This was my first time having afternoon tea at the quaint Tea House.

 

 

Top Tier - Sweets: Seasonal Tart, Madeleine, French Macaron

 

 

Middle Tier: Scones served with whipped honey butter, strawberry jam, and lemon cream (not pictured)

Bottom Tier - Sandwiches: Smoked Salmon, Ham & Brie, Coronation Chicken, Cucumber 

I enjoyed the scrumptious food with Sloane Tea's Celebration Medley, an apple-orange spiced rooibos blend.

I had a wonderful time and would love to return in the summer when the rose garden surrounding the Turner Pavilion Tea House is in bloom!

Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel's Drawing Room

It's been a long time coming...

I finally had afternoon tea at a tearoom that has been on my bucket list for years: The Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake!

 

 

The Afternoon Tea was my 2020 milestone birthday gift, but then Covid came long...My friend and I finally went to the Prince of Wales for afternoon tea last month--and I celebrated turning 40 again!

  

Sloane Tea's delicious Peaches & Cream white tea was served in a Sadler teapot and Wedgwood teacup.

 

 

 

The Traditional Afternoon Tea included an assortment of delicious finger sandwiches, pastries, and the signature scones.

 

And I don't know how it gets better than this. 

The Prince of Wales' elegant and scrumptious afternoon tea was one of the best tea experiences that I've had!

Waterdown Tea House

When I found out that the proprietor of the Waterdown Tea House was retiring and shutting down its operations before Christmas, I rushed to use the gift certificate that I received back in Christmas 2019 (!).

 

Photo credit: Waterdown Tea House

I had intended to use the gift certificate but the pandemic and life just got in the way.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to enjoy afternoon tea inside the beautiful tea house. I picked up my take-out order a few days before Christmas.

 

My takeout order: Afternoon Tea, extra scones, and two tea blends (Prince Harry Royal Wedding Rooibos; Peach Oolong)

I was grateful that I got to try Waterdown Tea House's delicious food before they closed their doors for good!

Afternoon Tea at the Shangri-La

Last month, I went to my first afternoon tea in 3 years!

 

 

The afternoon tea at the Shangri-La Toronto offered an "exceptionally unique gastronomic experience".

The tasty Shangri-La Signature Blend Black Tea was served in a beautiful Wedgwood teapot and teacup.

Afternoon tea for kids

Our server poured dry ice over the fruits on the tiered tray for dramatic presentation.

Afternoon tea for adults

The unique and scrumptious scone and savouries: Caviar & Potato, Sable Fish, and Mushroom.

Our delectable desserts: peanut caramel cookies and a cherry almond pistachio cake.

 

The Trompe L'Oeil Fruit Desserts were handsculpted to appear like real fruits, but the skins were actually made of chocolate! The pear was filled with caramel, cinnamon, and dulcey mousse and pear jelly, while the apple was filled with dill, lime, and zephyr mousse and apple jelly.

The Shangri-La afternoon tea was definitely one of the best afternoon teas that I've ever had!

 

 

 Tea Advent Calendar

 

Day 5
DIY: DavidsTea's Gingerbread Matcha
Charbrew: Summer Berry black tea

Day 6:

DIY: Geek+Tea's Hearthside Cider oolong
Charbrew: Rose Blush black tea

Day 7
DIY: Harney & Sons' White Christmas white tea
Charbrew: Chamomile

Day 8
DIY: Dessert by Deb's Almond Gingersnap Cookie black tea
Charbrew: Rose Blush black tea

Day 9:

DIY: Stash Tea's Christmas in Paris herbal tea
Charbrew: Afternoon black tea

Day 10
DIY: DavidsTea's Christmas Morning black tea
Charbrew: Earl Grey black tea

My Cup of Tea Dessert

Last Saturday, a friend and I met up for afternoon tea at My Cup of Tea in Richmond Hill.

We made reservations for 12 pm. By 1 pm, all the other tables were filled. 

I really liked how we could see and smell the teas--30 black, green, and herbal blends--before selecting one.

I picked the honey fig herbal tea. This delicious fruity tea was served in Eastern-style teacups.

The Spring Tea set for two.
Love, love, love the beautiful presentation!

The scrumptious savouries and melt-in-your-mouth scones.

The desserts were almost too pretty to eat...but that didn't stop us!

I've been wanting to visit My Cup of Tea since last year and the afternoon tea experience exceeded my high expectations.

2018 Round-Up

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Here's a quick run-down of the memorable tea moments in 2018.

January: I celebrated my birthday and National Hot Tea Month.

February: We had a Valentine's Day tea social at the office.

March: Tea in the Valley got a new logo!

April: I visited T by Daniel's new store.

May: I participated in The Enchanting Rose's teacup exchange.

June: I had afternoon tea at The Duchess Tea Room.

July: I enjoyed French tea.

August: We had an outdoor tea social at work.

September: I visited Lola Choco Bar and Sweet House.

October: Citizen Tea opens up shop in Burlington.

November: I attended the 3rd Annual RBG Tea Festival.

December: My tea-themed Christmas tree went up!

Thank you all for all the visits and comments throughout 2018. 

The Duchess Tea Room

Last weekend, I visited The Duchess Tea Room, a new Victorian-themed tea room operated by a mother and daughter with a British background.

The vintage furniture lover in me swooned at this quaint set-up.

 I love it when tea rooms use pretty china!

My table setting.

My friend had decaffeinated orange pekoe (top) while I enjoyed a refreshing lemon ginger herbal tea (bottom).

Our delicious tea for two was so filling that we couldn't finish the sweets and brought them home.

It was an enjoyable British tea room experience and I would definitely visit The Duchess Tea Room again!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Tea in the Garden

Belated Birthday Celebrations and Gifts

Last month, I turned another year older.

My talented aunt baked me this gorgeous strawberry shortcake. 

It tasted as amazing as it looked!

Photo Credit: My Friend

I finally had afternoon tea at Tea at the White House's new location. 

This was a joint birthday celebration with my friend. We both selected dessert-inspired herbal teas. Donut herbal (top right) tasted sweet and nutty, while the chocolate covered strawberry herbal tea (bottom left) was a delicious, fruity tea (this was my favourite).

The pretty tea-themed birthday cards.

The 5-year-old daughter of my friend (from the afternoon tea)--without any hints from her mom--selected this cute teacup image for my birthday card and even coloured the teacup in my favourite colour: purple!

My family and friends showered me with tea-themed gifts again!

This charming teapot is the perfect addition to my collection. 

I'll have to share my 3 elephant teapots one day.

How adorable is this Chip mug?!?

A tea infuser bottle.

Teas! Teas! Teas!

A crafty friend handmade this super cute cozy. 

Can you see the embroidered teacup on the back?

Lovely teabag holders in my favourite hues: turquoise and purple.

These pretty paper plates and napkins are almost too pretty to use!

Ditto for these notecards!

Purple strikes again: an embroidered tea towel.

An interesting historical book on tea.

I'm hooked on this present!

A reusable bag featuring teacups and teapots.

I'm beyond grateful to my generous and thoughtful family and friends for the fabulous gifts!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea