FOOD + DRINK
TOP 10 TEA SPOTS CONT .
FLEUR DE THÉ
THE MOAT TEA ROOMS
THE SANDS HOTEL
TEA ROOM TRADITION
Marie ' s Tea Room , Gravesend ( www . mariestearoom . co . uk )
‘ There ’ s nothing more important to me than family and friends . This has always been and always will be at the heart of the business ’ says owner of Marie ’ s Tea Room , Graham , who named his business after his dear grandmother . ‘ The tea room is based on my memories with her , right down to the decor , the way we cut our bread and bake our goods .’ Not only does Marie ’ s Tea Room bake scrumptious afternoon tea style treats and cakes , but they also pride themselves on their vast selection of ethically sourced loose leaf natural tea .
‘ Our loose-leaf tea is not adulterated in any way – at no point in the manufacturing process is anything added . The tea that you drink is quite simply just dried leaves / ingredients and therefore totally natural ’ says Graham . Stocking a variety of black tea , Oolong tea , rooibos tea , white tea , green tea , matcha , as well as fruit and herbal infusions , Marie ’ s Tea Room really has a leaf for every tea connoisseur ' s taste .
Fleur De Thé , Rochester ( www . fleurdethe . co . uk )
Wander up the ancient cobble stone high street of historic Rochester and delight in a cheery welcome provided by pretty tearoom Fleur De Thé , the perfect pitstop to a day of sightseeing in this heritage town . Fleur De Thé offers brunch , lunch , homemade cakes and pastries , traditional teas , speciality coffees , as well as an exquisite afternoon tea .
This can all be enjoyed in Parisian style elegance displayed through elegant pastel and cream decor amongst an array of beautiful shabby chic gifts and homewares available to purchase .
The Moat Tea Rooms , Canterbury ( www . moattearooms . co . uk )
Brimming with eccentricity , character and quirks , The Moat Tea Rooms nestles inside the city walls of Canterbury in a unique 16th-Century building complete with steep narrow staircase , low ceilings , exposed beams , original frontage and creaky wooden floors . Taking on a myriad of different identities throughout its history , including a Victorian bootmakers , this building oozes atmosphere , the walls seemingly desperate to tell their tales of time . Bask in a sense of intrigue as you make your choice from The Moat Tea Room ’ s selection of homemade sandwiches and mouth-watering home-baked cakes . Also boasting a large selection of loose leaf teas , The Moat Tea Rooms really is the perfect place to find peace , as you wait for your tea to brew in a pretty china teapot .
SEASIDE BREWS WITH A VIEW Mr Whippet ’ s Café , Sandgate (@ mrwhippetscafe )
For lovers of the outdoors that prefer to sip their tea in the open air in order to get a real sense of refreshment , Mr Whippet ’ s Café can be found at Princess Parade on Sandgate seafront , juxtaposed against the vast ocean it faces . A wonderfully converted food truck , Mr Whippet ’ s Café provides seaside explorers with much needed refreshments , priding themselves on freshly ground good coffee as well as a long list of speciality teas from The Tea Makers of London ( www . theteamakers . co . uk ). Mr
Whippet ’ s is perfect for those out for a bracing winter seaside walk , on hand to serve up a warm cuppa and cake , fit to fuel anyone up for the rest of the day .
The Sands Hotel , Margate ( www . sandshotelmargate . co . uk )
A beautiful boutique hotel and restaurant with stunning , unrivaled views over Margate Sands , The Sands Hotel offers an exquisite afternoon tea made from carefully sourced local produce . With their afternoon tea The Sands Hotel offers unlimited refills from their 10 different types of unique , luxurious loose tea leaves , with everything from ‘ cherry and rhubarb green tea ’ to a blend entitled ‘ Margate Seaside ’, a truly refreshing blend of excellent grade Sencha green tea , spearmint , sea buckthorn and beautiful blue cornflowers , inspired by Margate ’ s bracing sea air .
TEA WITH A TWIST
Jittermugs , Faversham ( www . facebook . com / Jittermugs )
Located in Preston Street , Jittermugs , was created by owner Nick Green nearly a decade ago when he questioned why he couldn ’ t find the good coffee he so relished in his hometown of Faversham . Starting with the coffee and then branching out to the teas , guests can enjoy a flavoursome brew combined with the comforts of a warm log burner and quiet jazz music .
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