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Enjoy Tea for Two, or More!

By Aleta Payne

Enjoy Tea for Two, Or More
From cozy cottages to grand hotels, casual to dressy, scones to shepherd’s pie, the options for families to enjoy a cup of tea together in the Triangle are almost limitless. Tea is a ritual as much as a meal, and in a fast-food world, it's one that forces people to slow down, talk and linger in each other's company.

Whether a special treat with mom or for a group celebration, tea should always be enjoyable, according to Mary Susan Reid, afternoon tea hostess at Chapel Hill's Carolina Inn. Folks can choose to be formal, she says, but “if they want to have fun with it, that’s fine with me, too. I’m not one who wants to be stuffy. There are people who show up with wonderful hats and little gloves. I’ve had people show up in blue jeans.”

A good number of the people Reid sees are children, and the Inn offers options to make tea kid-friendly. She makes sure hot chocolate is available year-round for those who prefer it. And Reid even came up with a special children’s drink, combining raspberry lemonade with rose hip and hibiscus tea. She calls the resulting blend rambling roseberry tea, and it’s a big hit with the young ones, served in individual pots.

“I really enjoy serving children, and it’s just a fun thing for them to do,” she says. “It gives them the chance to do something that’s rich in history and enjoy something beyond drinking soda pop.”

Barbara Rice, owner of the Royal Tea Room and Restaurant in Goldsboro, agrees that tea doesn’t have to be taken too seriously. A tea room “is a perfect place for a special occasion. But it’s also just for fun,” she says.

Rice has worked to create the atmosphere of an English cottage in a modern setting, near a car dealership and right outside Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. She’s had the pavement outside her building etched to give it a cobbled effect and decorated the inside with linen tablecloths and china, aiming for elegance without being “girly.”

In Fuquay-Varina, the Gold Leaf Tea Room is very kid-friendly, according to owner Rebecca Ryals. “We do a lot of children’s parties,” she says. Visitors can enjoy finger sandwiches, petit fours and mini scones while seated at linen-covered antique tables. The tea room is only open for private functions of six or more.

The Pineapple Tea Room in Apex also sees plenty of children, particularly daughters with their moms, but occasionally a son or dad join the party. A gift shop connected to the restaurant offers everything needed for tea at home, according to co-owner Kendra Haden. That’s if the miniature quiches, scones and other goodies served at the tea room aren’t enough.

For everything from high tea to a full breakfast, lunch or Sunday brunch, GAKS Coffee House and Tea Room in Raleigh is a great place to celebrate mom or perk up the day. Owner Sally Finch offers etiquette instruction on request. While the atmosphere is casual enough for those who want to come as they are, young ladies are welcome to dress for the event, according to Finch’s daughter, Karrica.

In Wake Forest, the Olde English Tea Room has done business for 10 years. It currently offers more than 30 teas and describes itself as a “come as you are” kind of place where children are welcome.

And for those who’d like to practice the ritual of tea at home, a North Carolina-based company has just the thing. Called The Original Tea Party on a Tray, it has everything needed for tea, packaged together on a tray or in a basket. Each set includes a book by North Carolina artist Allen Montague, The Definitive Tea Party Guide. The sets are sold out of Sweeties Store in Louisburg, and more information is available at www.sweetiesstore.com.

Spots for Tea

Family-friendly tea rooms in the area include:
- The Carolina Inn - 211 Pittsboro St., Chapel Hill, 919-933-2001, www.carolinainn.com
- GAKS Coffee House and Tea Room - 3048 Medlin Dr., Raleigh, 919-783-8202, www.gakscoffeehouse.com
- Gold Leaf Tea Room - 105 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina, 919-567-9561
- Olde English Tea Room - 219 S. White St., 919-556-6910, www.oldeenglishtearoom.com
- The Pineapple Tea Room - 111 N. Salem St., Apex, 919-303-0411, www.pineappletearoom.com
- Royal Tea Room and Restaurant - 209 S. Berkeley Blvd., Goldsboro, 919-778-2990, www.royaltearoom.net
For a list of more North Carolina tea rooms, visit www.teaguide.net. Many locations require a reservation or operate on limited hours, so call ahead.