Tea has long been associated with ritual. Japanese tea ceremonies are elaborate affairs, often lasting up to four hours, and are infused with symbology and serenity. English high teas are prized for their fancy fare and even fancier serving ware. An entire industry exists around the provenance, pageantry and presentation of tea.
Since we’re celebrating the ratification of the Declaration of Independence this month, let’s not forget one of the less civil rituals that preceded the event we honor on July 4, namely the December 1773 dumping of 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. Why? Tariffs. Nothing changes.
In Silicon Valley, people are not apt to linger over anything as long as they do a keyboard. Still, there are options for indulging in beautiful tea rituals.
The Tasting House in Los Gatos is now serving high tea on Fridays and Saturday afternoons. Inspired by the high tea experiences that Chef Julian Silvera enjoyed with his grandmother, the culinary team are making nearly all the menu items in house, including an impressive display of milk bread sandwiches, scones, pastries, petit fours and financiers.
The milk bread is perfect for inventive sandwiches, including smoked salmon, as well as sturgeon on dark rye. A curated selection of pedigreed teas from Mariage Frères of Paris, of which there are a dozen offered, with names like Chaï Chandernagor (dark Indian spices) and milky blu absolu (enriched with coconut) are brewed in traditional fine cast iron tea pots.
Owner Denise Thornberry has gone above and beyond, ensuring that servers have earned their certificates as tea sommeliers so they can better execute the fine art of tea service. Fanciful fine bone china from Rosenthal’s Brillance Fleurs Sauvages collection sets the tone for a delightful afternoon, accompanied by a charming live pianist playing swing and jazz standards. Each table is set in a most elegant fashion, complete with flowers, along with adorable spoon rests, which have apparently become collector’s items.
Add-ons include caviar service, and/or Champagne by the glass, bottle or flight. Afternoon High Tea at The Tasting Houe is offered every Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., starting at $75/pp. 368 Village Lane, Los Gatos.
Tea Time Palo Alto offers over 120 loose-leaf teas like Oolong, Darjeeling, Assam and Tisane blends, along with foods perfect for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or a light supper. The Queen’s Tea ($62.95), served from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., provides a complete English tea experience, accompanied by salad, sandwiches, scones and mini desserts, cheese and fruits. The High Tea adds a savory pie and a seasonal offering of special cookies (not dessert). Or pick your own tea, three English tea sandwiches, two scones and mini desserts or a savory pie or mini savories. Gluten-free and vegan options are available. Side orders of sandwiches are three for $16.95 and include these choices: avocado hummus, chicken-apple-walnut, cucumber cream cheese, egg salad, fig-apple-walnut, pesto-brie, salmon cream cheese, shrimp avocado and turkey-cranberry. 542 Ramona St, Palo Alto.
Alexander’s Patisserie in Cupertino and Mountain View offers afternoon tea Friday-Sunday for $60 per person at Mountain View location and $65 at the Cupertino shop. Luxury add-ons like A5 Hitachi Wagyu beef sliders, complement the menu that includes turkey cheese croissant, egg salad sandwich, cucumber avocado toast, smoked salmon tartlet, butter scones, fruit scones, hazelnut and chocolate mousse cake, rose lychee Ispahan (macaron), blueberry tart, panna cotta cups and mini delights. Reserve on Tock. 209 Castro St., Mountain View; 19379 Stevens Creek Blvd. #100, Cupertino.
Lisa’s Tea Treasures started out in 1988 in downtown Los Gatos, bringing the truly English tea experience to the early go-go days of Silicon Valley. Founder Lisa Strauss later branched out to include outposts in Willow Glen, Menlo Park, Campbell and Los Altos, the latter two of which still remain, operating with the same winning formula.
The vibe is quaintly Victorian, and they offer monthly themes, with June’s being “Tea in France.” Several options are available, including Queen Victoria’s Cream Tea ($28.95; vegan or gluten-free,$29.95), which includes tea and either two scones with Devonshire cream and preserves or four assorted petite desserts and fruit. You really want to try the My Ladies Respite ($48.95) which delivers a fleshed-out tea experience, with scone, petit savory, four tea sandwiches (chicken-apple-pecan, cucumber cream cheese mint, egg salad, goat cheese sundried tomato), mini desserts and fresh fruit. Different sandwiches plus crustless quiche are offered with the Duchess’ Delight option. Tea for two is also available, and you can dine indoors or out, or get your goodies to go. 167 Main St., Los Altos; 2305 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite 110, Campbell.
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