Image this: Daylight is really fizzling out behind the snow-capped Rockies, and it’s getting chilly — actually chilly. You’re comfy, although, sipping loose-leaf tea from a pot, nibbling on delicate, scratch-made pastries.
Afternoon tea is a pleasant ritual that Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford — certainly one of Queen Victoria’s besties — improvised in England within the 1840s.
In keeping with the story, the Duchess complained of a sinking feeling in her abdomen between her noon meal and late-night dinner. She didn’t want a lot within the interim: Tea would do, with some bread and butter, in fact, and oh, perhaps a slice of cake, too.
Different socialites adopted swimsuit, and earlier than lengthy, Anna Maria Russell’s fixing starvation pains turned a beloved worldwide custom.
Instances have modified because the Victorian Period, but the refined follow of taking tea could be extra related than ever, given the growing calls for of contemporary life.
Right here’s your formal invitation to expertise conventional afternoon tea alongside Colorado’s Entrance Vary.
However be warned: When you begin taking tea, you’ll marvel why you haven’t been doing all of it alongside.
Fort Collins
On choose Sunday afternoons, beginning at 2 p.m., head to Sundown Lounge for top tea. It’s positioned on the luminous prime ground of The Elizabeth Resort, 111 Chestnut St., theelizabethcolorado.com, a luxurious boutique resort within the coronary heart of downtown Fort Collins.
Along with a rotating, seasonal collection of sandwiches, scones, and desserts, tea lovers additionally select from
loose-leaf teas from an area provider, Completely happy Fortunate’s Teahouse, 236 Walnut St. (In case you drink tea frequently, take a look at Completely happy Fortunate’s Tea Lover’s Membership, which provides reductions to frequent in-person and internet buyers.)
If the Sundown Lounge’s swanky rooftop digs and panoramic mountain views aren’t fancy sufficient for you, perhaps the stay jazz from one of many resort’s home pianists will do the trick. Reservations are required for top tea, and visitors have to be at the least 8 years outdated to take part.
Boulder
Two blocks south of Pearl Avenue Mall, the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, 1770 thirteenth St., boulderteahouse.com, is a well-liked vacation spot for foodies, tea lovers, and architectural buffs who delight within the alternative to step into one other world whereas ogling a dozen intricately carved cedar columns and the location’s immaculate hand-painted ceiling.
You’ll be able to examine this teahouse’s unimaginable origin story whereas having fun with traditional British afternoon tea service, accessible from 3 to five p.m. every day. The service consists of cucumber sandwiches and delicate, house-made teacakes.
Whereas the tea menu modifications seasonally, the chef can all the time accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free requests. Afternoon tea features a three-tiered tower of candy and savory pastries, scones, and mini-sandwiches introduced with, in fact, a pot of premium tea.
This teahouse steeps every little thing: black, inexperienced, white, oolong, yerba matte, rooibos, and Pu’erh, together with a wide range of natural blends.
For adventurous patrons looking for a novel tea expertise, Dim Sum Tea Time is held one weekend a month.
It options tea-infused dim sum delicacies and premium oolong picks. Reservations for afternoon tea are required at the least 24 hours upfront; nevertheless, Dim Sum Tea Time routinely sells out, so e book that have as much as six months earlier than visiting.
Attempt to not grin as huge because the Cheshire Cat whenever you stroll by means of the ornamental entrance door at Alice and Rose, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., aliceandrose.com, to find what proprietor and head chef Holley Ellis calls her “ode to Wonderland.”
Pleasant service, dainty tea towers, and Wonderland superb china are non-negotiables at tea time, which is obtainable Wednesday by means of Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (brunch tea) and 1 to three p.m. (afternoon tea).
Alice and Rose is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations will not be required.
In case you arrive with an urge for food, Ellis’s upscale, all-day brunch menu contains a considerate assortment of things — BLTA on fresh-baked artisan bread, for instance, and the veggie quiche tart.
For a correct tea time, order one of many Alice in Wonderland towers, brimming together with your selection of conventional tea fare, brunch gadgets, or — new this yr — charcuterie. Charcuterie is a welcome twist for tea lovers with savory palettes and gluten intolerance.
Company can order a la carte and construct their very own whimsical expertise.
If the clear Nordic aesthetic inside Süti & Co., 2031 sixteenth St., sutiandco.com, doesn’t make you swoon, properly, there’s all the time the signature shortbread pastries with their conventional — and top-secret — recipes and charming nomenclature.
Proprietor and head chef Andrea Uzarowski grew up in Copenhagen earlier than coaching in Michelin-starred kitchens. Along with growing the café’s menu, Uzarowski additionally curates the house items, lining smooth cabinets that result in a no-frills espresso and tea bar with a charismatic collection of muffins and teacakes.
Signature baked items are ready on-site every day, utilizing contemporary and seasonal elements, Danish butter, and domestically milled flour. Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free choices are all the time accessible for visitors with dietary restrictions.
It sounds pleasant, however are you able to name it tea time with out the desk service and towers?
At Süti & Co., construct your personal expertise every time the temper strikes: Merely order a wide range of bite-sized treats and a pot of natural PLŪKT model loose-leaf tea.
Then, sneak off to one of many many cozy nooks. Süti & Co. is open Tuesday by means of Sunday, 9 a.m. to five p.m. Closed Mondays.
Louisville
For a completely unpretentious tea time, you would possibly need to attempt The Huckleberry, 700 Principal St., thehuckleberry.com. This widespread weekend brunch spot provides off charming, small-town vitality.
Don’t let the restaurant’s down-home aesthetic idiot you, although: The location’s wood tables are dressed with linens for conventional afternoon tea, served every day at 2 p.m.
Tiered towers brim with the mainstays: delicious pastries and savory sandwiches — all baked contemporary the day you arrive and introduced with a pot of the identical tea you’ll get on the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. (Lenny and Sara Martinelli run each eating places beneath their native restaurant group, Three Leaf Ideas).
After Thanksgiving by means of mid-January (or so), The Huckleberry will serve a particular Vacation Afternoon Tea with seasonal towers and reward baggage.
Reservations for afternoon tea — vacation and in any other case — are required at the least 24 hours upfront. Events of all sizes are welcome.
Golden
New this yr, Babe’s Tea Room, 1027 Washington Ave., babestearoom.com, is exactly what Golden wanted.
To succeed in Babe’s, stroll towards Clear Creek and search for the huge flowers ballooning out of two entrances.
Along with a yummy, all-day brunch menu, this creek-side lounge provides a standout anytime tea service. Limitless pots of loose-leaf tea are served alongside a prix fixe menu with savory sandwiches, scones, home made petit fours, and a French macaron — plus a trio of jam, lemon curd, and Devonshire cream.
If the climate cooperates, request a desk on the again patio; in any other case, benefit from the dainty décor, well-curated paintings, and decidedly female digs indoors.
Reservations are really helpful however not required. Babe’s flagship location in Denver, 2401 fifteenth St., provides a extra intimate tea time expertise with a smaller meals menu.
And talking of Denver…
Denver
Afternoon tea at downtown’s Brown Palace Resort, 321 seventeenth St., brownpalace.com, is a traditional for a cause.
Whereas this cherished Colorado custom is a bit of dear, the expertise lives as much as the hype. So if the winter doldrums strike, don your Sunday finest and spend just a few hours actually indulging.
Take tea Monday by means of Friday, midday to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., within the resort’s historic Atrium Foyer. On this pretty, ethereal house, you’ll be handled to pots of natural tea with Devonshire cream exported from England.
Different menu gadgets haven’t traveled fairly to this point to achieve your desk. The honey, for instance, comes from an on-site rooftop bee colony. (How’s that for native taste?)
Tea comes with every little thing you count on: scones, finger sandwiches, house-made pastries, and a truffle.
Stay music accompanies afternoon tea, with varied piano, harp, and cabaret-style acoustics accessible. Stroll-ins are welcome if house permits, however it’s best to e book a number of weeks upfront — at the least. Vacation tea sells out.
For these desirous to step again in time, there’s Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens, 2555 W. thirty seventh Ave., lumberbaron.com.
The parlor room inside this Queen Ann Victorian mansion–initially house to an area lumber baron and his household—is ideal for conventional English tea Wednesday by means of Sunday.
It options a wide range of fancy finger sandwiches served with scones, crumpets, and cookies. Every part is baked contemporary every day and introduced on a set of superb china.
A nod to its deep native roots, the inn sources tea from Denver-based Teakoe, a small-batch provider headquartered in Longmont.
Reservations are required at the least 24 hours upfront. The Lumber Baron Inn will accommodate dietary restrictions, however 48 hours of discover is required. Events of all sizes are welcome.
Colorado Springs
In keeping with Glen Eyrie’s web site, no go to to Colorado Springs is full with no cease at Glen Eyrie Fort, 3820 N. thirtieth St., gleneyrie.org.
And no go to to Glen Eyrie Fort is full with out Tea on the Fort, served Wednesday by means of Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Tea lovers are seated at a gorgeously dressed desk contained in the magnificent, sunlit Fort Music Room, the place the women congregate after their night meal. They’re then handled to a multi-course and somewhat hearty seasonal tea menu that features soups, salads, sandwiches, canapés, and sweets — together with piping scorching tea.
It’s not a requirement, however you would possibly need to schedule a 90-minute tour earlier than or after your tea service.
Reservations are required for each choices, and visitors can e book experiences as much as 90 days upfront.
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