December 2nd, 2011 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
The Lavender Tea House
As a child living in England, I adored tea time. My childhood memories of having a spot of tea (with milk, of course), scones with a dab of lemon curd, and cucumber sandwiches remain among the fondest, and now I can relive those days of yore at the quaint English-style tea houses located here in Oregon’s Washington County.
The Lavender Tea House (16227 SW 1st. St., Sherwood) is housed inside a Queen Anne Victorian, originally built in 1896, located in the heart of Old Town Sherwood. Enjoy a lovely selection of freshly made sandwiches, scones and a variety of teas with all the accompaniments. Reservations are recommended.
Tea’s Me (1601 B SE River Road, Hillsboro) has a themed menu that changes monthly, complete with a wide variety of all-natural and organic teas, freshly baked scones served with traditional English curd and cream, plus finger sandwiches and more. Tea’s Me also is a gift shop, offering tea pots, sets, cups and accessories. Reservations are recommended.
Tea Thyme and Lavender (12675 SW 1st St., Beaverton) is part antique shop, part tea house. Located in downtown Beaverton, walking into this quaint shop is like going back in time. Tea Thyme offers a variety of teas, sweets, sandwiches and more, plus loose-leaf tea may be purchased by the package. Throughout December, a “Christmas Tea” is available, featuring soup, sandwiches and sweets for $25 per person. Reservations are required.
And, of course, no conversation about tea in Oregon’s Washington County is complete without mentioning the Stash Tea Retail Store (7250 SW Durham Road, Tigard). While not a tea house, per se, this retail shop of the popular tea brand sells more than 200 varieties of loose-leaf and 80 varieties of bagged teas, as well as tea gifts, pots, cups and accessories. Plus, there’s always a hot pot of tea available to taste-test their signature teas (complimentary tastings).
If English tea time is your, well, cup of tea, you’re bound to find a spot that will allow you a jolly good time, without all of the pomp and circumstance. Cheers!
Tags: beaverton, dining, English tea, High Tea, Hillsboro, Lavender Tea House, restaurants, Sherwood, Stash Tea, tea, tea houses, Tea Thyme, Tea's Me, teahouses, tigard
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January 27th, 2009 by Rhiannon
Last Friday, I gave a colleague who is new to the area a tour of Washington County, which I touted as a “Hidden Gems of Washington County” tour. The purpose of this tour was to show-off parts of the region that, for one reason or another, seem to be overlooked.
What I didn’t expect was that I was going to be amazed by this tour. I discovered new things about the places I’ve been talking about for more than a year. Because I have a child-like enthusiasm for things, I will share these discoveries with you.
Did you know that Tigard, Ore. based Stash Tea (yes, the same Stash Tea you find in your local supermarket) has more than 200 loose-leaf teas in its retail shop located near Bridgeport Village? There you can taste the three selected teas of the day. Also, the tea company has a personal relationship with the farmers from whom it gets the tea leaves, rather than purchasing the leaves in bulk from a wholesaler. In addition, Stash Tea doesn’t use any artificial ingredients in the teas, so I can sip my cup of “Double Bergamot Earl Grey” tea with a clear conscience.
The “hidden gems” tour also included a stop at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. This sanctuary for migrating and indigenous birds, waterfowl and mammals is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I enjoyed the interpretive center, which opened nearly a year ago. The display gave a nice overview of the U.S. refuge system and the history of birds and mammals in the Portland area and how the development of the area by humans has affected many indigenous species. And, because I love to shop, I didn’t leave the gift shop without purchasing a couple of books about the birds of Oregon.
For lunch, we stopped in the Lavender Tea House in Sherwood, Ore. This quaint tea house, located in the heart of Old Town, is a renovated home and serves traditional “high tea” staples, such as scones, tea sandwiches, and, of course, tea. However, what makes this place unique is its new baker program.
The concept allows entrepreneurial bakers to use the Lavender Tea House’s new industrial kitchen – for a fee – and showcase their creations at the tea house’s bakery. So far, a handful of stay-at-home mothers have signed up for the program. More information about this program is available on the Lavender Tea House website.
The day of exploring ended with a wine tasting at the new Barron-Wahl winery, also in Sherwood. Owned by Gordon Barron and Bill Wahl, with the wine created by renowned Oregon winemaker Joe Dobbs, Barron-Wahl’s pinot noir is one to keep your eye on.
Don’t just take my word for it, come explore for yourself. Or, better yet, tell us about your hidden treasures of Washington County.
Tags: bakery, Barron-Wahl, Lavender Tea House, new wineries, Stash Tea, tea, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Wineries
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