Massachusetts

Massachusetts Tearooms

Accoustic Java – As the name implies, coffee is a major item on the menu at Acoustic Java – and the coffees and coffee drinks I’ve had there are fine. However, another major component of the menu is tea! They have teas in the black, green, rooibus, herbal, oolong varieties, and hot chai latte. Yang can attest that their Chinese Sencha is a wonderful green tea, while I have several favorites amongst the black teas. The Darjeeling is appropriately crisp, and if you want something brisker Continental Tradition, English Highland, and Early Morning Broken will do the trick. Some even have a touch of sweetness to them, but not so much as to cloy. Their Irish Breakfast and Lapsong Sochong will also appealing for black-tea drinkers. Our favorite of the foods are the whipped feta/olive oil drizzle, with avocado added on toast – and the toast is thick and delicious. It’s an addiction for Yang and I. Acoustic Java has three locations. We usually congregate after a morning walk (or while I work on a novel) at the Brussel Street shop, behind where Rotman’s used to be in Worcester. It’s a comfortable, casual setup in a factory building with wooden tables perfect for chatting, writing, or studying. Friendly atmosphere. If you click here, you’ll link with their FB page that provides better info on the menus. The Brussel Street shop serves mostly breakfasty items – but all day, and that includes the heavenly avocado toast! The others have a more extensive menu of sandwiches and such. Enjoy!

The Tea Leaf – 487 Moody Street, Waltham. This is a lovely, cozy tea room. Here you’ll find pleasing Victorian decor and plenty of tea items and teas for sale to take home with you. There are a few tables, so you need to call for reservations, but doing so is well worth it! There is a nice selection of black, green, oolong, and herbal teas – many are by Harney and Sons. My favorites are the vanilla and the Darjeeling. If sweets are your game, then there are plenty of delicious choices. If you’re up for savory, those are right there for you as well. The woman who runs the tea room is friendly and interesting, so you will definitely have a nice visit!

Crepes Tea House -This restaurant has two locations, one in West Springfield and one in Enfield. The first is the larger venue, with the second one a bit smaller and in a mall next to Sears. I highly recommend both! First, let me tip my hat to Kayleigh Berger for recommending this tea room. How can you go wrong: tea AND crepes?! Plus, they have many other items on the menu, including breakfast all day! The food is delicious and the tea is savory. There’s as excellent and extensive tea menu, which is brewed loose leaf in a large glass mug, a pot, or a samovar (!) depending on how many will share the same brew. Yang was particularly taken with their green tea. A girl who loves caffeine, I went for the black. We hit both restaurants in one day, having lunch before out bicycle ride on the Windsor Locks trail and dessert (for me), dinner (for Yang) afterwards. The crepes are yummy, whether savory or sweet (I had bananas and honey), and there is a pancake sampler that is to die for (potato, zucchinni, farmer’s cheese)! The ambience in both is pleasant, especially in the West Springfield location, and the folks who work in both are friendly and capable.

Burdick’s – Cambridge (52 Brattle St.) and Boston (220 Clarendon St.). This place specializes in hot chocolate and coffees, but sells several nice teas by the pot or cup, brewed from loose leaf. They also have the most decadent desserts, as well as French macaroons (love the lavender, pumpkin, or pistachio the most, myself!). Unfortunately, the shops are tiny with limited seating. The Boston shop offers a better chance to sit down than the Cambridge one does. Only sweets are available to eat. Your best bet is to come in during off hours or off-season, when tourists and students aren’t thronging about.

Nu Kitchen – 335 Chandler St, Worcester. Another place that is more café than tea room, but they still have some nice tea and chai. For tea, they use Mighty Leaf in sachets. I really like the Darjeeling. The chai is great, and the food is superb! They have all kinds of neat sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc. My husband likes the pulled pork sandwiches and I enjoy this one sandwich that has sweet potatoes, cranberries, walnuts and honey-feta in it – yum! Their coffee is nice, too, especially the dark roast. The place has a nice coffee-house vibe. It’s near Worcester State, so you often see students and professors relaxing or catching up on their work with the inspiration of tasty comestibles and refreshing potables.

Shelly’s Tea Room – 51 Court St., Plymouth. Yang and I tried this tea room for the first time this year for my birthday. We liked it so much that we returned this spring. The tea list provides a plethora of choices. Yang found some green teas to his liking and I indulged myself in some Yunan the first time and Mountain Kenya the second. Both teas were delicious! Yang really enjoyed the ploughman’s lunch and I found the tea sandwiches pretty nifty. Shelly always has a selection of ingredients that are both interesting and enjoyable. A tasty scone of decent size, lovely flavor, and yummy clotted cream and jam rounded out our meal. The various types of Afternoon Teas and desserts a la carte look quite tempting as well. The room is long and a bit narrow, but cozy not crowded, with pleasing Brit-inflected decor. Both times I was there, Rod Stewardt was crooning the American songbook in the background. Our hostess was friendly and welcoming. It’s a nice way for tea lovers to start off or finish up a visit to Plymouth.

Dunbar House Tea Shop – 1 Water Street, Sandwich. Another place special to us. There’s a decent tea list, which includes some of the traditional brisk black teas and a rather tasty blackberry tea. There’s also and extensive list of green teas, which my husband appreciates! Here’s a link to the tea menu. The sandwiches are filling and deliciously crafted, while the Afternoon Tea has a nice balance of sweet and savory. The dinner and lunch items are extensive, delicious, and filling! The decor is elegant but not off-putting. One room is wood-paneled, like a country inn; the other, larger one, is sunny with large windows and light-painted walls. Either room is comfortable and cheery, as cheery as the people. I really like the Blue Willow, multi-tiered trays. Where can I get one? Here’s a link to their updated web site.

Beth’s Special Teas – 16 Jarves Street, Sandwich. More a sandwich café than a tea room, Beth’s is still a pleasant place for lunch. The light-painted walls and the large windows make the setting bright and friendly. The sandwiches are filling and delicious. The tea is Harney and Sons, always good! I traditionally get a pot of their Irish Breakfast Tea, which stands me well against a cold fall, winter, or spring day. The coffee there is a treat as well.

Boston Public Library – The afternoon tea is a nice treat in elegant surroundings. I could do with a bit more savory; however, if you have a light, early lunch (e.g. small salad or soup) then come here for the tea in the early afternoon, you will have a sufficient supply of food energy to satisfy you. If you check out their tea menu on the website, you will see that the sandwiches and sweets are all yummy! The tea menu is not huge, but what they have is choice! I recommend the Ceylon, Darjeeling, or Assam; however, the other black, green and herbal teas also look good. Adding pleasure to the experience, the wait staff are friendly and informed. My husband and I found afternoon tea here a nice experience on a cold winter’s day. Other seasons should be enjoyable, too! The architecture and murals of the library are a marvelous pleasure for a pre- or post-tea stroll.

Java Room – 14 Littleton Rd, Chelmsford. Another place more café than tea room, but the teas and food make it well worth visiting. The tea selection isn’t huge, but what they have is good stuff: I especially love their Blue Flower Earl Grey and Keemun. Their chai is excellent! I haven’t had any of the coffees or steamers, but people who have give them a thumbs up. They have some great sandwiches and soups. I especially enjoy their chicken salad and tuna salad sandwiches. My husband goes for the chicken Caesar. There are also vegetarian offerings, as well as a breakfast menu. Some evenings and Sunday mornings, they have live music: quite enjoyable. The people are amiable, and the decor is a pleasant, slightly funky moderne.

Heath’s Tea Room – 43 South St., Rockport. Lovely tea room outside of the touristy part of Rockport, with a warm, bright, and comfortable decor. They have an extensive sandwich, salad, and soup menu; and their Afternoon Teas are nice. I tremendously enjoyed the Queen Catherine Tea. This tea room has a healthy menu of black, green, white, herbal, and rooibos teas. The people here are amiable. There’s even plenty of parking out front!

Jolie Tea Company – This tea room has moved to 316 Derby and expanded greatly, both in the size of the establishment and the offering comestibles. There is a scrumptious lunch menu full of savories and sweets. You may order a la carte or there are various types of teas (meals) and a prix fixe luncheon with three courses. The food is exquisite and the tea is fine. The menu of all the various types of teas is extensive. Of course, there is also a large selection of sweets, if that’s where you heart lies. The people there a so friendly as well ! I love the decor: tropical colors with a sophisticated European ambiance. Behind where I sat, the entire wall was a window, looking out on the street and harbor. Another wall is collage of famous folk imbibing tea – I identified all but two pictures. I was a delight to see one of my favorite singing groups enjoying their cuppas amongst the celebs.