eteaket - Tea Boutique and Café, Edinburgh
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“Stands the Church clock at ten to three
And is there honey still for tea?” Rupert Brooke
The enduring beloved tradition of British Afternoon Tea was first introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford in 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon as the evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked that tea, bread and butter and cake be served during the late afternoon. Soon this idea spread to become a fashionable social event when upper-class society women would change into gowns, gloves and hats for afternoon tea in the drawing room between four and five o'clock.
There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea." Henry James
How should one describe the New Town of Edinburgh? – gracious, cultured, refined. And that’s just the local residents! The 18th century city centre is renowned for its grand Georgian architecture, designer shops and upmarket, high society lifestyle. Here, eteaket has the perfect location for a traditional Tea Room serving a pot of tea and cake in the old fashioned way. Read the name carefully. This is the place to experience the true British etiquette of tea drinking, combat the rise and rise of American coffee houses and rekindle our passion as a nation of tea drinkers.
Just around the corner from George Street on Frederick Street in the heart of the New Town, step down a couple of steps into eteaket where the interior design is seriously bright and colourful, featuring two intimate “parlours”, with an array of turquoise and crimson chairs at neat little tables for two or three. This is more than just a tea room. The all day menu runs from breakfast – porridge, toast, croissants and bacon rolls - to lunchtime soups, sandwiches and salads, leading leisurely on to classic Cream Tea (scones, clotted cream and jam) as well as an assortment of cakes, traybakes and patisseries. And then there’s the extensive speciality list of teas - Black, Oolong, Bollywood chai, green, white, herb, fruit and flowering loose leaf teas. Staff are passionate and knowledgeable, so just ask for advice on which to sample.
After a tiring day sightseeing or shopping in Edinburgh, why not indulge in Afternoon Tea, served properly with a vintage layered cake-stand, piled high with savoury sandwiches, fat scones and tiny wedges of chocolate and fruit cakes, while the table is laid with pretty, retro mismatched, flowery plates, cups and saucers. Your selected tea comes in a contemporary transparent teapot, with Tea Timer (like an egg timer) – press the plunger accordingly to create a weaker or stronger brew.
On my recent visit, the sandwiches on the lower plate of my cake stand were, surprisingly, chunky foccacia wedges, stuffed with Mozzarella and tomato, or Pastrami, Swiss cheese and mustard. Not quite the dainty cucumber-on tiny-white-bread-triangles I was expecting. But having passed back comment, the owner Erica Moore said she would definitely consider serving classic cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches. Meanwhile, with Tuna chilli mayo and Italian chicken sandwiches on offer, eteaket is a clever blend of the old and new, teatime for the 21st century.
Whatever time of day you are passing, stop by for a cup of tea at eteaket and a feast of good food – morning, lunchtime or afternoon. The Tea Boutique also sells a wide range of teas, tea caddies, teapots, strainers and teatime accessories.
Frederick Street 41, Edinburgh, UK
Contact tel: +44 (0)131 226 2982
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eteaket - Tea Boutique and Cafe
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