Page 114 - Southern Oregon Magazine Summer 2022

chow | tea

TEA FOR TWO…OR MORE

Lovejoy’s Tea Room

lisa manyon ezra marcos

istorically, “high tea” and the “Queen’s tea” have interesting
backstories. While drinking tea dates back to the third millen-
nium BC in China, it’s said that it was made more popular in
HEngland during the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife the
Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza. In the mid-19th century, the
concept of high tea first appeared. The tradition of afternoon tea is often
attributed to Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, a lifelong friend of
Queen Victoria’s who craved sweet and savory snacks between lunch and
dinner and requested they be brought to her room.

It’s also said that the phrase high tea was originally used to describe a hot,
working-class meal accompanied by tea and served at a high table and high-
back dining chairs at the end of a long workday.

Regardless of the history, tea is enjoyed by many and afternoon tea is a tradi-
tion worth visiting.

Nestled in downtown Ashland, Lovejoy’s Tea Room awaits. They offer after-
noon tea service by appointment as well as walk-in options, and you will
not be disappointed. In addition to traditional tea service, you’ll find unique
gifts for the tea lovers in your life, including an impressive assortment of
loose-leaf teas, teacups, tea shirts, and more.

Lovejoy’s boasts a quirky décor of mismatched china and classic furniture.
You’ll find handmade tea cozies, mosaics made from broken china, and
various collectibles. Walk-in seating is available at the front of the house,
the Queen’s Tea is hosted in the back, and soon there will be a tea tasting
bar offering flights of tea. This reservation-only appointment is available
Thursday through Saturday, with seating times from 11 - 4.

I was delighted to experience the Queen’s Tea. A dear friend and I carved
out the afternoon to enjoy a leisurely two-hour tea.

We were greeted by the owner of Lovejoy’s, Muna Nash. A gracious hostess,
she walked us through our options and made suggestions for tea selections
to accompany our tea sandwiches. Her first suggestion was the Lady Grey,
a house blend of Earl Grey and Apricot (a fusion of floral and fruity). It is
available in both decaf and caffeinated, and we opted for the decaf – this
is my new favorite blend. It paired perfectly with our Queen’s Tea, which
included assorted tea sandwiches. There are eight to choose from, along
with daily specials. We enjoyed the Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese &
Capers, and the Chicken, Apple, Walnut & Cranberry Salad, the Coronation
Chicken Salad, and a special turkey and cranberry sandwich.

The Queen’s Tea also comes with a lovely Organic Spring Greens salad
served with a Balsamic-Dijon Vinaigrette dressing, fresh seasonal fruit, a

112 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2022