A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"One Sip at a Time" is from the December 2007 issue of Southern Living.
Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all
information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.
Tea is the new coffee. What, you didn't know? Nowadays, tea shops
are bubbling up all across the South, enticing with a cup of civilized
warmth. We've uncovered three spots scattered across the Lone Star State
that will give you the jolt you're longing for in a new way.
Dallas: Tempest Tea
In the ultrahip Inwood Village neighborhood,
this casual cafe caters to the young and on the go. You'll discover more
than 75 teas, including two hot and two iced versions for daily
take-out. In addition, owners Jody and Brian Rudman feature funky Asian
bubble teas--a cold version with chewy tapioca balls as anchors. They'll
startle you at first but will become addictive after a few gulps. If you
choose to linger and enjoy your beverage in-house, you'll find lots of
Southern Methodist University students that keep this trendy place fun
and youthful. www.tempesttea.com or [214] 351-4832.
Austin: Tea Embassy
Less funky and more refined, Tea Embassy tops
tables with exquisite china teapots. Classical and jazz music plays in
this charming 1872 house. Choose from more than 200 loose-leaf
varieties, ranging from the Margarita Tea that tastes just like the lime
drink to White Antlers, an unusual white tea from Malawi. Some want
black tea, others want oolong, and if you don't know, resident expert
Carol Sims, who owns the tea boutique with son Jonathan, will help you
out. www.teaembassy.com or [512] 330-9991.
Bracken: Bawdsey Manor British Tearoom
You'll want to don white gloves and something delicately floral when you enjoy tea at Bawdsey
Manor British Tearoom. As you walk in the door of this traditional
tearoom in Bracken, just northeast of San Antonio, you'll hear china and
silver clattering and see portraits of Queen Elizabeth and other members
of the royal family. You'll get the most authentic British experience in
the South. Partake of lunch, afternoon tea, or high tea complete with
scones made by the two British sisters who own the place. Pass the
clotted cream, please. www.bawdseymanor.com or [210] 651-7500.
