Tea is not only perfect in the morning with your breakfast,
but it is also a great way to get you through the afternoon hump, or to finish
off the day with friends or a great book at night.
My obsession with tea has led me to many
interesting places in my life in an attempt to find the next great flavour. This
past weekend was no exception. I found myself exploring yet another new tea
experience at the Tea Party café.
The café is perfectly situated in a turn of the
century home in the historic Byward Market (at the corner of York and
Dalhousie). Upon entering, I was immediately delighted with the charming
ambiance, cozy mismatched furniture and large brick fireplace.
While most tea houses tend to pride themselves on
their service, the Tea Party is much more informal and relaxed, allowing customers
to choose their own tables after placing their orders at the counter.
My friends and I were not terribly hungry, and so
we decided to go with the Cream Tea for $7.99. It consisted of a pot of tea (or
coffee) and a scone served with cream and jam.
With over 150 loose-leaf teas to choose from, it
was very difficult to make my choice! Did I want black or red tea? Or perhaps a
Rooibos? Or maybe even a green or herbal tea? The options were endless! I must
have spent a good 10 minutes carefully examining and smelling the various teas,
but in the end, I went with the French blend, which was a combination of
Vanilla, Earl Grey, Jasmine, Rose and Lavender. The floral flavours were
deliciously blended with the traditional Earl Grey, resulting in a fabulous tea.
It was probably one of the best teas I’ve tried in a very long time, and I plan
on going back to buy some.
The scone with cream and jam was also delectable.
The scone was just the right consistency and paired well with the strawberry
jam. I was, however, slightly disappointed with the cream, as it was whipped
cream instead of the customary Devonshire cream. But aside from this,
everything was great, and was well worth the price.
In
case you’re looking for a bit more than just tea and scones, they also offer a
very affordable high tea, which includes four different types of sandwiches, four
assorted sweets, a scone with jam and cream and a pot of tea. It serves two
people and only costs $11.99/a person.
They also
have a fun and delicious vegetarian lunch menu, ranging
from soups and salads to grilled sandwiches and curries. Finally, if you’re not
in the mood for tea, they offer a range of hot and cold beverages. The Indian
Chai Latte does sound appealing! And apparently, it is also a really good place
to buy coffee!
Verdict: Overall, I enjoyed my experience, and I will most definitely go
back!
Cost: Cream Tea $7.99
Rating: 9/10
Hours: Monday to Friday: 10am - 9pm; Saturday: 10am - 8pm; Sunday: 10am -
7pm
The Tea Party Café, 119
York Street, Ottawa, ON
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