CHICAGO

Drake Hotel, Palm Court Lounge

This historic hotel first opened its doors in 1920, filled with grandeur, and retains the aura of yesteryear. Their tea selection is a mix of Mighty Leaf and Twinings including 11 black, 2 green,

8 herbals served loose leaf in individual pots. We chose Mighty Leaf Ginger Peach and Pear Caramel. The Ginger Peach combines black tea with fruit and spice. Pear Caramel is made

with Washington state pears blended with Ceylon and China black tea and pieces of caramel.

A three-tiered tray was delivered to our table. Tea sandwiches included egg salad and cucumber-tomato both on white bread, roast beef with crunchy onions on wheat, and a ham-asparagus roll. Banana bread and golden raisin scones with cream and raspberry preserves were served, and later, four pastries. The presentation isn’t particularly inventive or gourmet, however a pleasant traditional version of British-style afternoon tea in old-elegance surroundings. Our friendly and attentive waiter took good care of us. We were checked on several times and our teapots were kept full of hot water. I enjoyed the harpist who played a mix of classical melodies throughout tea. The centerpiece of Palm Court is the limestone fountain. The room is eclectic and fancy, but not off-limits. I would suggest visiting the Drake mid-week when it is not too busy and you can soak up the ambiance of this American landmark.

For more comments about afternoon tea at the Drake, please see my full review at Adagio’s TeaMuse:  http://www.teamuse.com/article_071203.html

Tea Gschwendner, State Street Shop

It is all about tea here; the service is passionate and tea-educated. They serve and pack from a literal wall of tea while encouraging the customer to smell and examine the leaves. Four types are typically ready to taste and you can order a custom cup to-go. I've tried several of their teas; the vast selection includes over two hundred fifty, many estate-specific. My favorites are the Castleton Darjeeling -- its sublime, light and flavorful, and China White Pai Mu Tan.  I am currently exploring Oolong, and enjoy their classic Formosa Fancy Oolong Taifu and flavored Oolong Tangerine Vanilla Yogurt, semi-fermented with tangerine peel and blossoms. They have explanatory labels on how to brew their teas and a free, informative book. Their distinctive private label tea includes organic and Ayurveda lines. Tea Gschwendner has become my favorite place for tea in Chicago.   

For more comments on Tea Gschwender, please see my full review at Adagio’s TeaMuse:

http://www.teamuse.com/article_070803.html

NOTE: Tea Gschwendner Bistro on Halsted Street is now closed.

Tea Essence                                                                                                    

This place is a great addition to Chicago’s tea scene. Their tea comes from many different vendors and they blend themselves. A large selection of loose leaf tea is ready for you to smell and inspect from small, clear jars. I tried the Raindrop white blend; it was delicious. Passionate owner Tanya is excited to talk about tea and you can sense her enthusiasm for tea in the blends she creates. It is a comfortable and colorful place with a variety of types of seating. I look forward to my next visit to talk tea and try their innovative blends.

Nada Tea House                                                                                                

The contemporary interior of Japanese-inspired Nada is meant to offer a peaceful teahouse experience. And it does. The sleek space employs an imaginative combination of materials, such as bamboo and aluminum with an illuminated wall of straw mesh. Opposite is a long banquette with pillows and pendant lighting. Service is friendly and informative. Tea is presented on small wood trays with an hourglass set to suggest when your tea is ready. Green teas are imported from Yanoen, Kyoto, Japan and black teas from the UK’s Ahmad. I enjoyed a sampler of greens: Sencha, Genmaicha, Hojicha. The honey-colored Hojicha is my favorite. Lunch fare includes panini, soup and quiche. The food is special; my chicken pesto panini was a cut-above as well as the exceptional mission fig scone. I look forward to my next visit to Nada for Japanese teas and thoughtful presentation and service. 

Hi Tea                                                                                                                 

This modern tea shop displays local art, flat screens of tea images, and brightly colored walls.
The service is friendly and eager to help with over 50 private-label teas. I’ve tried three, White Strawberry Rose, Japanese Cherry Blossom and Mango Rhubarb; all were delicious. I was pleasantly surprised to see several plantation specific teas. Their tea is served in ceramic pots that keep the tea piping hot. Hi Tea’s food menu consists of sandwiches, soup and salads with several vegetarian and vegan options. They have a nice selection of teapots and cups, vintage tea-inspired accessories and canisters of tea for sale. I would recommend Hi Tea for its extensive selection of teas you can’t find in many other places in Chicago.

Four Seasons
To celebrate my friend’s birthday we chose the Four Seasons Conservatory. We decided to indulge and have the "Conservatory Tea" with Louis Roederer Champagne. Our tea service was full of pleasant little surprises… like the unique teapots and the single deviled eggs served in white porcelain Chinese soup spoons. The special white porcelain “Sleeping” teapots (made in Austria) lay on their sides to steep, and then upright to separate the leaves from the water and pour. They serve Mighty Leaf Teas with a selection of 17 black, green, oolong, white and herbal teas. We decided on pots of Vanilla Bean and Orchid Oolong. Already a fan of Mighty Leaf, I savored my Vanilla Bean like a dessert--full-bodied and fruity. The blend of Ceylon and China black teas meld perfectly with the Madagascar vanilla. The Orchid Oolong my friend selected was subtly floral with a touch of coconut. It has become one of her new favorites.

From a hand-carried tray we were served a very nice selection of traditional tea sandwiches including cucumber, roast beef crostini, chicken pate on white bread, salmon on rye, and a deviled egg. The sweets were abundant and presented on a three-tier tray left at our table. My favorites were their White chocolate ganache tart and tiny Raspberry cheesecake. Other delectables included layered espresso cake, banana bread, orange mini-madeline and coffee flavored shortbread. On the top tier were two types of scones, plain and pumpkin, both were perfectly baked and served with lemon curd, raspberry preserves and devonshire cream.

Located on the seventh floor, the Conservatory’s refined atmosphere is a wonderful place to spend a few hours. The room is richly decorated and highlighted by a fountain and large windows over Michigan Avenue. We thoroughly enjoyed our decadent afternoon at the Four Seasons Conservatory with wonderful tea, Champagne, delicious savories and sweets… it was really lovely.

NoMI Lounge at the Park Hyatt                  

The sleek atmosphere of NoMI Lounge in Park Hyatt offers a special place to celebrate tea. Their version, Contemporary Afternoon Tea is served daily on the seventh floor overlooking Chicago Avenue. We selected the Royal Ceylon Platinum Tips, which is grown on the highest mountaintops of Sri Lanka. It was delicious with a hint of pine and lingering honey flavor. Their collection emphasizes the geographical origin of high quality loose-leaf and reserve teas from Chicago based Mitea. Our trays presented a trio of open-faced sandwiches including asparagus crostini topped with quail egg, prosciutto and olive bruschetta and a salmon with dill mini toast. For sweets, we enjoyed the most delectable pistachio mousse with lemon cookie, Grand Marnier chocolate cake and citrus madelines with raspberry preserves. The quality of tea is more the focus than other afternoon tea offered on Michigan Avenue. In addition to this, delightful food, attentive service and distinctive surroundings I’ll certainly return.

Argo Tea Cafe                                                                                                               

I’m excited about these Chicago-based tea cafes. The urban atmosphere and friendly service

make it a great place to meet a friend or take your laptop (free internet). Argo has a selection of about  35 loose teas. I've tried several; my favorites are Persimmon White (de-lish!) and Darjeeling Champagne. Ginger Peach, made from their concentrate, is also very good for a quick cup. Tropical Green was my least favorite. Its flavorings were good, but it was a little bitter; it may have been over-steeped. One has the option of a custom pot or a select few teas made quickly from a concentrate. Both types are good and flavorful, but for the "experience" of tea I'd suggest a custom pot. There are also signature drinks (tea drinks both hot and cold) and Bubble tea. I tried a signature cold drink, the MojiTea, made from Armenian Mint herbal tea (caffeine free) with lime juice and they suggested the addition of sparkling water—very refreshing on a warm day. I've also tried their Bubble Tea, which as a non-coffee drinker I must say was my first Starbucks-esque experience given all the choices... I had a Ginger Peach Bubble Tea with coconut pearls and soy milk! I like this place because they do both traditional loose teas and innovative, new tea drinks.

Peninsula Lobby

This is a luxurious place to spend a relaxing couple of hours. Afternoon tea is served in the elegance of the Peninsula Lobby. This expansive room with 21-foot windows is warmed with green, yellow and cream.  The spacious Lobby is intimate with tables set wide enough apart to feel you are not encroaching on anyone else’s conversation. A small balcony holds a cello and violin duo and fills the room with classic sounds. Tea service includes a delightful mix of scones, savories and sweets with a pot of tea. They offer a selection of thirty-two Mighty Leaf Teas plus proprietary blends. The Wedgwood China teapots and serving pieces our treats arrived on compliment the atmosphere perfectly. The lobster sandwich is divine. Lobster and shrimp blended with peas and fennel; this is a highlight for me. Our attentive server heard me say how much I liked it and brought us two more sandwiches. Another surprise was an orange soufflé brought to us, au gratis. A superb experience I look forward to having again.

Russian Tea Time

It’s possible to enter another world right across the street from Chicago’s Art Institute. It’s a world of old-Russian opulence. With warm mahogany walls adorned by unique samovars and pleasant burgundy hues, this is a lovely place for tea. To celebrate my mother’s birthday we chose their full tea service, which includes pots of tea, scones, savories and sweets. From their ample list of thirty we selected their House Blend (Darjeeling, Ceylon and black currant) and a hearty decaf vanilla. The decadent House Blend is served in a traditional glass cup with an intricate metal frame and handle (just like the cup a friend of mine told me he drank from on the Trans-Siberian Railway). Our three-tier tray arrived filled to the brim. The delightful raisin scones were the flaky kind, laden with giant golden raisins and accompanied by cream and jam. The savory offerings were three-layer crustless triangles; salmon with dill, roasted red pepper, and corned beef with asparagus. In addition, they included delicious mini quiche and veggie blintz. All were flavorful, however I wish one of the sandwiches would have been on their dark pumpernickle bread. Sweets were abundant; petite Napoleon Torte, mini rugala, white and chocolate petit four, meringue, raspberry bar, butter cookies and a tiny biscotti-type treat. The service is friendly and the ambiance is welcoming; I would highly recommend this afternoon tea.

Boulder   //   Chicago   //   NYC   //   Pasadena   //   Portland   //   Seattle    //   Salt Lake City   //   San Diego   //   San Francisco   

Julius Meinl

Styled after an Austrian coffeehouse this 145-year-old Vienna based company opened its first store in America in the Lakeview/Southport neighborhood. Julius Meinl offers a selection of  sixty private label teas in a modern-euro atmosphere. I especially enjoy their Bio Lemon Vanilla white and Decaf Orange Blossom black. They present their tea in a ceramic pot with cup, glass of water and cookie all on a small metal tray. Their food offerings include breakfast, soups, sandwiches and European specialties, including goulash, crepes and käsespätzle. And of course, the pastries. Their pear and brie sandwich on raisin bread is my favorite. It is a treat to find to find such a great selection of tea in a coffeehouse environment.

Shanghai Terrace

Within the elegance of the Peninsula Hotel, the Shanghai Terrace is a genteel place to enjoy tea and flavors of the Far East. Upscale and refined, the ambience entrances one to relax and enjoy. My friend and I were pleasantly welcomed with a tasting cup of the Emperor Oolong,

a dark, full-bodied brew flavored with ginseng.  After ordering we were presented with an amuse bouche of smoked salmon on radish cake and a steamed bun. From an array of about twenty-five teas we selected Oriental Beauty. This oolong was lightly floral and sweet. The service is impeccable.  I learned tipping the lid of the ceramic pot just slightly out of its resting spot signals the waiter to bring more hot water. Our dim sum: veggie spring rolls, bbq pork buns, Mongolian chicken and spicy beef gyoza were each excellent. We shared two deserts.  The Shanghai bubble tea arrived in four tall shot glasses, colorful, in mango in raspberry flavors. The persimmon date pudding with house-made banana chocolate ice cream was decadent.  The delicious tea selection, lovely presentation and outstanding service will

bring me back.