A famous culinary adage says, “Cooking is art; baking is science,” but passion for serving the perfect tea with heart-warming food comes from the heart of Sia Patel. The new owner of Tea & Teacups and former biotech scientist born of Indian-English heritage is proudly preserving the rich traditions of English tea parties with a delightful cultural twist.
Tea & Teacups was established 22 years ago in its present location in the Yorba Station, lovingly preserved and curated throughout two decades. Sia launched a total remodel and rebrand that has brought the mainstay of the Yorba Station into the 21st century.
Guests now enjoy a more modern look with soft natural lighting through a spacious modern concept similar to those found in teahouses in England. Lounge on the elegant sofa and comfortable high-back chairs for a quiet afternoon cup of tea as soft classical music plays in the background. A party of up to eight can enjoy Windsor afternoon tea at a private table. Little princes and princesses learn English tea etiquette at a “Tea Par-tea,” and bridal or baby showers can accommodate up to 50 guests.
Tea & Teacups offers more than 100 different blends of tea and herbal infusions, but the tea custom in Sia’s home is her signature offering: masala chai, a sweetly spiced black Assam tea boiled with milk, which evolved from a cultural blending of India and England through the past 60 years.
Small bites lightly fill the belly and come in classic cucumber-dill, traditional egg salad, savory chicken cranberry, smoky ham and blackcurrant, and sweet mango chutney. When a lunch or brunch is more to your taste, order a spinach, mushroom and cheddar quiche, soup, or salad. Reservations are preferred, but with a teensy wait or advance notice, gluten-free and vegetarian options are happily provided.
Sia is happy to help guests in the boutique to select the right tea arrangement for your home or as a gift. From among the displays, you will also discover some rare vintage pieces not for sale from the owner’s personal collection.
The customs and ritual of tea root us in our worldwide histories while giving us something to appreciate in a fresh, new way. Tea & Teacups welcomes you back where gathering with family and friends for a cup of tea will always remain.