Tea by Two Tearoom-Bel Air, Maryland, Part 1

 

Tea by Two - A Charming Tea Experience (Part 1)

 

 

 
I'm not entirely sure why, but I always have high expectations when I visit a tea house. Perhaps it's
because I grew up in the UK, or maybe it stems from my own experience combining a mini tea
house with my spa services. Whatever the reason, I tend to evaluate each tea room I visit using a
few key categories:
- Location
- Building
- Parking
- Theme
- Tea quality
- Menu
- Tea service
- Retail shop
- Pricing
- Friendly, knowledgeable staff

 

This review will be in two parts. In Part 1, I'll focus on the location, building, parking, and overall

 

theme of a charming local
 gem-Tea by Two.Part Two will focus on the retail area and the service in the tea room 

 

  A Mother's Day Introduction

 
My visit was inspired by a delightful surprise. During a large Mother's Day tea event (which was
lovely, though a bit under-organized), I was lucky enough to win a beautiful gift basket from Tea by
Two, including a gift certificate. That serendipitous w 

in brought me to their door-and I'm so glad it
did.

 

 Location: Location, Building & Parking

 

 Tea  by Two is located in a quaint house nestled beside a florist. The tea room occupies the first floor, making it wheelchair and walker friendly.

The  flower beds surrounding the property are well-kept and filled with romantic, cottage-style
perennials and shrubs-a perfect welcome.
A large parking lot is available in the back, which is a big plus. However, the house sits back from a
busy road, and while there is signage, it can be easy to miss. If this is your first visit, definitely plug
the address into your GPS.

 

 Theme & Atmosphere

 
The vibe here is romantic, soft, and "cottage core" to the max. You enter through a purple door into a
retail area that immediately sets the tone.
And let me tell you-this retail shop does not disappoint. It's beautifully merchandised with a curated
selection of teas, accessories, and gift items that make it hard to leave empty-handed.
It can get a bit crowded on weekends, but the staff works quickly to seat you. Reservations are
highly recommended, especially on Saturdays. If you're just coming to shop or having tea for one,
it's best to call ahead and check their current policies.

 

 Tea Room: First Look Inside the Tea Room

 
The tea room itself is cozy and intimate. Several well-dressed wooden tables are

 topped with pretty tablecloths and china, giving it a warm, inviting cottage feel.There's a surprisingly broad menu, including: - Traditional British High Tea or - A la carte options to mix and match
Now, let's get to what really matters in a tea house. The quality and taste of the scones!

 
Scone Test: The Scone Test (It Passed!)

 

The true test are the scones :

British style 
Freshly made, not hard as a rock  
Round and flaky not doughy  

 sweet, but not too sweet and 
Bonus points if served with lemon curd and clotted cream.

 

More about Tea by 
Tea: Coming Up in Part 2...
In the next post, I'll dive into:
- The tea selection
- Service experience
- Overall rating of Tea by Two
Stay tuned!