Lizzie on Holiday

For those of you who have followed the Darjeeling Darlings this year, you know that we pride ourselves in our Lizzie doll mascot. Lizzie accompanies us on all of our travels, tea room visits, and even helps approve new teas. However, in December Lizzie got the chance to do some of her own traveling sans Pippa and Jules as she crossed the pond to see the great United Kingdom.

Our good friend, Jurga at London Office Space extended the invitation to have Lizzie packed and flown to London for a few weeks of sight seeing all about the great city. We'd be fibbing if we said we weren't envious of her given that the Darjeeling Darlings have yet to see England! Jurga made sure she got to experience it all and we are so grateful for her hospitality. Lizzie even made the London Office Buzz page as the royal visitor from Texas! 

Buckingham Palace

Big Ben

The London Eye

Piccadilly

Card Shopping

The Tower Bridge

Red Police Box

At the Queen Elizabeth Conference Center

Westminster Abbey

Leaving London!

Lizzie arrived back home safe and sound last week and is enjoying a warm February in San Antonio. London Office Space was even kind enough to send her back to the States with a couple boxes of royally themed English Breakfast tea and a lovely post card featuring Her Majesty the Queen. Hopefully our Little Majesty will be back in London one day to show the Darjeeling Darlings around!

Best Wishes from London Office Space

~ The Darjeeling Darlings

Crest Hill Antiques and Tea Room

Since Pippa and I began to write this blog, my mom and I have committed to going to tea one a week when I am home from college. This week we decided on Crest Hill Antiques and Tea Room. A friend, who is quite the foodie, mentioned it and said she was interested in trying the tea room. I went online, read the reviews and knew that it was the place for us. Being the last minute planner that I have become this summer, I called at 10am for a 2pm tea reservation. The owner answered the phone and could not have been more accommodating.

Crest Hill is located in the charming little town of The Plains, Virginia. It is in a cottage like building and inviting from all angles. The parking is located in the back and a path has been made that leads tea goers to the front door. Along the porch steps are tea pot flower pots the brighten up the entrance. They are beyond adorable and a little taste on what to expect inside. The first things you notice once you enter the tea house are all of the antiques. With the prices ranging from high to low, there is something from everyone. 

After browsing for awhile, we were lead into the tearoom by the owner and seated at a corner table for two. The table had linen and china (that matched), which was a huge thumbs up for me. It also was decorated with a vase of fresh flowers and a tea lamp. Crest Hill has monthly tea specials that have about three different teas and different food selections that are special from the menu. The owner brought us out a selection of tea blends that we were able to explore. There are over 25 types of tea to select from, so there is something for everyone. I chose to go with the Diamond Jubilee Tea, which was listed a special, and my mom selected the Yorkshire Gold. Both were brought out in cozy covered teapots and were brewed to perfection.

A Table Set for Two

Since we went around lunch time, we chose to order off the lunch menu verse having the afternoon tea. I started out with a croissant sandwich which had smoked turkey, apple slices, and cranberry chutney, served along with veggies and pickles. My mom selected the curried chicken salad croissant sandwich which was also accompanied with the veggies and pickles. They both were so fantastic that we almost forgot to take a picture of them.  For our second course we went for the traditional scone. I selected a plain one and my mom had a one with currents. We were both delightfully surprised when the came out warm with powered sugar dusted on top. Along with the clotted cream and strawberry and lemon curd, we both agreed that they were some of the best scones we have ever had. Since the sandwich and scones were hug we were getting extremely full by this point but the owner tempted us into trying the homemade chocolate lava cake. Of course she made it sound so wonderful that we just had to try it. It was served warm with whip cream and fresh raspberries. It took us all of three minutes to eat it. We once again agreed that it was one of the most heavenly things we had ever eaten and we so glad that we decided to try it.

Turkey Croissant Sandwich

Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich

A Plain Scone

A Scone with Currents

Chocolate Lava Cake

Crest Hill is by far one of the best tea houses I have ever been too. From the relaxed atmosphere to the fantastic food it is a true gem. I plan on going back and having the full afternoon tea the first chance I get. I would recommend this tea room for anyone who truly wants a relaxing afternoon. Being only an hour from Washington, DC it is the perfect place to stop after a busy morning at the museums. The Darjeeling Darlings would give Crest Hill Antiques and Tea Room a 10 out of 10. 

Aylesbury Tea Room

Aylesbury Tea Room

When its over 100 degrees, what can you really do? Why go to tea (and shop) of course! That is exactly what my mom and I (and Lizzie of course) decided to do on this extremely hot day. We agreed that we wanted to try some place new and on our way to the outlets. With those to requirements, Aylesbury Tea Room was our place! Located in downtown Leesburg, Virginia and just ten minutes from our shopping destination, it seemed to be the perfect stop.

Since we decided to go on the spur of the moment, I was concerned that we would not be able to get a reservation. My worry was quickly put to rest when I called just two hours before my requested reservation time. Karen, the British owner, was extremely pleasant and accommodating. She politely explained that the tearoom was booked for a private party but she could accommodate us at 2:45.  Of course my mom and I were running late, being Greek we can’t help it, so I had to phone Karen and let her know that we would be arriving 20 minutes past our appointment time. She could not have been more understanding and told us not to rush.

The amazing William and Kate flag greeted us!

Upon arriving we were greeted by Prince William and Kate Middleton on a traditional British Flag. It was a warm welcome and was just a taste of what to expect inside. The tearoom is mainly a shop that specializes in imported British goods and tea related items. Being the antique lover that she is, my mother was in heaven. There were rooms upon rooms of items for purchase and they were all decorated extremely well.  Since the private event was still going on once we arrived, we took the opportunity to explore all that the shop had to offer. We found quite a few excellent piece of furniture that we decided we just had to have and plan on going back to purchase since they would not fit in our car! After our shopping adventure we had worked up an appetite and were more that ready to try all that Aylesbury had a reputation for.

Just a few of the goods available for purchase.

We were seated at a long table set for eight in a room adjacent from the private party. It seemed to be the only place vacant at the time. The modest table was set with two china teacups and matching plates along with a plastic tablecloth. The friendly hostess immediately explained the tea selection and took our order. Aylesbury only serves Yorkshire Tea, which was fine by me since that is one of my favorites.  I chose the earl grey and my mother selected the original to accompany the afternoon tea. Both were brought out immediately in teapots with unique tea cozies and were equally delicious. A three-tier tray of four finger sandwiches, traditional scones, and mixed cakes and cookies along with fresh fruit were severed promptly after. I requested to have all cucumber sandwiches and they were happy to accommodate me. The scone was not bad and you could purchase the mix from their store along with the cookies served. The cookies and cakes were all store bought which lead to disappointment. Overall the food was pretty average tea fair and not much was served for $20.00. The food was served on plastic plates, which did turn me off just a bit but could be perfect for people wanting to take young children.  Aylesbury does offer a children’s tea for tea goers under the age of ten for around $9.00.

Aylesbury is nice place to stop if you want to take a break from all of the near by shopping and want a place to relax. From what I could tell it is also a fantastic place to hold a party and take young children. The extremely friendly staff, excellent decorations, and fantastic shop made up for the average food and noisy atmosphere. I feel like we caught them on an off day since they were consumed with having an event and would like to go back when there is a little less going on. I would not recommend going when a party is booked since the tearoom part is very small and the noise level is very loud. The Darjeeling Darlings would give the tearoom a 6 out of 10 and the fantastic shop a 10 out of 10.

Tea Sandwiches for Two

The scones were accompanied with clotted cream and jam.

The cookie and cake platter was served with some fruit.

Brambles English Tea Room: God Save the Queen

For this year's spring break vacation, Jules and I met up in Naples, Florida for a few days of R&R. Prior to the trip I discovered Brambles Tea Room in downtown Naples and knew the Darlings must pop in for a visit. 

If you tour the Brambles website you will immediately pick up on the sunny and down-right adorable pink interior, as well as exterior, appearance of the establishment. All too fitting for Naples really. It truly is quietly tucked away from the crowds walking up and down Fifth Avenue, so much so that Jules and I spent a good ten minutes walking Fifth searching for this mysterious tea room. After asking a shop keeper or two we located the small alley between two stores that leads to Brambles and were pleasantly surprised by the striped awning and white French doors that greeted us. A couple of iron tables were scattered under the awning for outdoor seating that would be lovely for the cooler Florida temperatures during the winter. 

You can't help but fall in love with the place even more upon walking inside. Although a small room, it comfortably holds many square pink table-clothed tables with large English kitchen chairs. The red floral wallpaper and accompanying antique French sconce light fixtures are icing on the cake. All of this being said don't mistake this as a "ladies only" hang-out. Male readers, take heart in knowing that there were plenty of men enjoying finger sandwiches and a cup of tea shamelessly. 

Brambles has a few options for afternoon tea platters that offer assortments of bite sized sandwiches, goodies, and scones. The baked ham and smoked salmon were delicious! Afternoon tea is served from open to close, but other lunch options are available such as large salads and sandwiches as well as quiches. If you're feeling brave try one of the items off of the "Olde English Favourites" menu. The Shepard's Pie offers a special twist by being covered in mashed potatoes and oozing melted cheese. Unfortunately, I have to give the scones a below average review due to the fact that they were no different than Pillsbury biscuits. However, the accompanying strawberry preserves were wonderful and great for the sweet tooth just in case you hadn't gotten enough sugar from the assorted desserts. Speaking of the tea pastries, if you find them  particularly enjoyable they are for sale in the bakery in the back room. 


The best part of Brambles is their selection of signature loose-leaf teas. I personally wanted to try them all; they all sounded so good! Here's the list I saved that is not featured on Bramble's website. 


Blue Lady~China black tea flavored with coconut creme, strawberry, kiwi, and blue flowers.
Caribbean Voodoo~China black tea flavored with cornflowers, mango, coconut, passion fruit, and more.
Creme Brulee~China black tea flavored with caramel and French vanilla.
Royal Wedding~China black flavored with raspberry, strawberry, kiwi, and a hint of mango. Specially blended for the Royal Wedding and so popular we decided to add it to our regular menu.
Autumn Haze~China black tea flavored with cranberries and blueberries.
Earl Grey Lavender~Traditional Earl Grey blend with added lavender petals. 
Earl Grey Raspberry~Traditional Earl Grey blend with tangy raspberry.
Peach Brandy~China black tea with peach brandy
Pumpkin Cream~China black tea with pumpkin flavorings.


Much to Jules, Lizzie, and I's delight Bramble's was offering a special afternoon tea selection in celebration of the Queen's diamond jubilee. Of course, we couldn't pass it up and we were not disappointed!

 The chocolate crown cups were thankfully only a cup because they were incredibly rich and to die for. Being that Jules and I are not huge fans of orange we opted to swap the Orange Vanilla tea for Royal Wedding. However, the "complimentary tea sachet" was Peach Brandy tea and wonderfully tasty. Being a lover of peaches, I wish I had a couple tins of it to accompany the current summer heat. 


I mentioned in a previous post that Lizzie was given quite the warm welcome by Brambles owners, which consequently sparked her promotion to Darjeeling Darling mascot. I only hope that she doesn't get too spoiled with all the American love of the monarchy. Not every tea room visited will give her one of these...

In conclusion, Bramble's is a must if you're visiting Naples. Take a break from the beach and hit the shops of Fifth Street...and then take another break and wander back to Brambles for a sit and a biscuit scone. Be sure to branch out when selecting your tea too! 


~Pippa 

Diamond Jubilee English Breakfast Tea

Here's a fun find I came across the other day while out and about.

Sitting on the tea/coffee aisle of my local Whole Foods was this tea tin with none other than Her Majesty pictured on the front. How could I resist? This commemorative tea caddy for "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee"consists of twenty five English Breakfast tea bags and a brief history of her reign as queen. The back of the tin states that English Breakfast is "a classic blend of Indian, Kenyan, and Ceylon teas which characterises the traditional English cup of tea. A refreshing tea for any time of day." I concur!

Lizzie approves!

Although I only bought the tea for the all-too-Darjeeling-Darling-appropriate tin and its potential as a secret cash stash when emptied, I've been pleasantly surprised by the unexpected delightfulness of the English Breakfast. I expected it to be the kind of cheap tea leaves gimmicked by the packaging of a shiny box, especially since (sadly) most Americans would not know the difference anyway. But alas I was wrong and happily so. These English Breakfast bags brew a tasteful, yet soft cup of tea that I have utilized for W.T.E (way too early) mornings and post lunch pick-me-ups.

If you come across this bright red tin on a grocery aisle don't hesitate to grab it!

Until next time
~Pippa

Pomegranate Green Tea

This afternoon I gave into temptation and tried one of the teas that I got from the Fancy Food Show. I decided to open the variety pack from The Boston Tea Company.  I was pleasantly surprised to find about ten different types of tea in the box.

Since it was extremely warm out today I decided to go with the Pomegranate Green Tea as my choice. I thought it would taste the best over ice. I made it in my ice tea maker using the single serving setting.  It was really easy to make.

I found the tea very bold which I expected since it was considered a green tea. It was a bit on the bitter side and tasted tremendously strong.  I did add a sugar cube to help sweeten it.  I was expecting it to have more of a pomegranate flavor. The pomegranate taste was practically nonexistent. It tasted like an average cup of green tea.

I would recommend this tea for the green tea lover. Anyone who enjoys a cup of strong tea as a substitute to coffee will love it. The pack comes with 24 bags and retails for about 4.99.  I am looking forward to brewing the other flavors in the box. I would give this tea a 6 out of 10. -Jules

The Boston Tea Company and Lizzie 

Darjeeling Darlings

Hi, our names are Pippa and Jules and we are the Darjeeling Darlings. We are two best friends that met last summer during our first year at Sweet Briar College. Our friendship bonded over Saturday Night Live, Anderson Cooper,Outback Steakhouse, and most importantly our love of tea. We decided to write a blog about the different tea houses we visit along with our mascot Lizzie. Any excuse to have tea, right? We hope you enjoy reading about our journey through tea!

Jules and Pippa along with Lizzie.