Attached to their vintage shop is Cox and Belouney’s Tea Room. Which serve their own blends of tea in ‘Granny’s china’. I was in a bit of a rush, so as I didn’t have time for a full cream tea, I tried Ethels Cream Tea – a blend of Ceylon, white chocolate pieces, strawberry slices and roman chamomile flowers. It was delicious, and the waitress recommended a splash of milk which made it even more scrummy. I wish I could have lingered longer in that lovely tea room.
Looking over the market stalls of Camden,Yumchaa sells it's large range of teas to the throngs of tourists and locals alike. I needed a low caffeine fix and so their Pai Mu Tan, a Chinese white tea was just the ticket. ‘It is a very delicate tea, as it is only picked and dried, which leaves it with nearly no tannin or caffeine.' With undertones of sweetness it was the perfect pick-me-up for an already tea-fuelled day. I recommend heading to one of their many cafes to sniff all the tea samples!
The Hackney Pearl is the closest cafe to my home so apologies in advance if they appear on here more than once. Lucky for me they serve delicious Jing tea and have an amazing range of table tops for me to photograph on! Calling themselves ‘a happy, cosy local' they truly are and whilst inside is full of retro furniture (and people on macbooks) they also have a great outdoor space for when the sun is shining. The Jing Assam tasted ‘toasty' and slightly malty but a comforting brew.
I am a massive fan of the gorgeous prints of William Morris and what makes the gallery in Walthamstow even better is the light and bright tea room with luscious views of Lloyd Park. They offer a wide range of hand-blended teas, including a specially-made ‘William Morris' blend inspired by his life and work and by his love of flowers & fruit. I'm not quite sure how I made such a mess but I like to think it was because I was so inspired by the wonderful patterns!
While Fernandez & Wells is mostly known for its coffee but they also stock a range of loose leaf teas. In need of a strong cuppa I went for Barry's Irish tea, a builders-type brew that went great with a slice of lemon tea bread.