High Tea at the Simpson House Tea Room

Last weekend marked the first warm and beautiful day of Spring. I decided to celebrate the loveliness of the season by having high tea.

In Chester Springs there is a tea house where you can sit in a quaint dining room where lively classical music plays and your server offers your choice of wonderful teas.

I looked forward to this for weeks. Unfortunately, the traffic on the highway was a 10-mile parking lot. Nothing – and I mean nothing – will get between me, a cup of tea, and cute finger sandwiches.

I entered totally apologetic about my tardiness. The proprietress calmed my nerves and showed me to my table. The atmosphere of the tea house quickly placed me back in the right state of mind. The decor was bright and tidy with wood tables and chairs, as well as, crisp linen tablecloths and napkins.

My friend and I decided to wear fancy dresses, but the other guests either wore similar attire or comfortable weekend casual. Combined with the decor, music, and the attendees it seemed several past has come alive again the present. And it did it so well.

I ordered the seasonal Blueberry Burst tea. I have an addiction to blueberries. I love them in any way, shape, or form. This was a black tea with bits of fragrant blueberry blossoms intermixed with the black tea leaves. Of course, a choice of sweetener was offered, but I preferred to drink my tea black. I wanted to taste every natural flavor.

To start our meal, we ate a lovely tomato soup and freshly made salad. Although it’s at the beginning of spring, the hot soup chased away any lingering chill from the weather. The tomato chunks intermingled with the warm broth. Although I wished for more, I didn’t want to kill my appetite for what was to come.

Our server presented by the much-anticipated finger sandwiches, pound cake slices, scones, and sweet condiments of fruit jam, Devonshire cream, and lemon curd. The sandwiches arrived in both a variety of sweet and savory selections included chicken salad surrounded by a delicate and flaky croissant, diced olives and cream cheese and a firm milk bread and also a date cream cheese filling in a fruit bread that complemented it well. That was not all, but they were the most wonderful.

The tastiness of each item was overwhelming. If I chose to indulge in the sandwiches, I attempted to it daintily.

The Simpson House Tea Room is a refurbished 1890s farmhouse that has retained all of its charm from the era. Whether you are getting reacquainted with an old friend or celebrating an occasion, this business offers you all that you are looking for with friendliness and decorum.

Most importantly (for me anyway) if you tried a tea that you must take home, you can purchase it. Drink it whenever you wish to remind you of your special moment in time.

Simpson House Tea Room
110 Pottstown Pike Village of Eagle
Chester Springs, PA
610-458-0120
Website: http://www.simpsonhousetearoom.com

Story and photos by The Pastry Prophet