Where: Hoover, Alabama Style: Sweet cafe Tea Selection: 5 loose leaf teas by locally based Tea & Time Teatimes: Parties of 2 or more, Friday to Sunday, 11 to 8 (Afternoon tea dates and times are still taking shape here, with a monthly afternoon tea date recently announced). Reservations: Reservations required Contact: 205-319-9888 Cost: $30 Afternoon Tea Destination Tea Tips: Consider coming here to introduce your children to afternoon tea, in a setting where a bit of dressing up wouldn’t be out of place, but not too formal for kids still testing out their teatime manners.
Destination Tea Notes: Approaching its one-year anniversary, Dreamcakes Cafe is the sister shop to Jan Jacks Potter’s Dreamcakes Bakery, also in the Birmingham area, where all the scrumptious baking happens for both locations. In our view, what most importantly sets apart the Hoover location is that it offers afternoon tea. This is a welcome gain for Alabama afternoon tea-goers, in a state with less than ten afternoon tea venues. We take pleasure in the emphasis on local business here, from the beautiful wall mural designed by a local artist to the locally sourced Blue Spring Living Water and Alabama-based Tea & Time tea purveyors. The teas are delicious, as are, unsurprisingly, the baked goods (Jan’s baking business is over 10 years old), and we are especially delighted when tea is poured out of two of Dreamcakes’ collection of beautiful vintage teapots.
Foyer displays
Brightly colored interior makes Dreamcakes feel like a dreamy confectionary. Dreamcakes Cafe also offers breakfast, lunch, ice cream and milkshakes.
A local artist designed this tableau of a backyard gathering (pup included), which was converted into wallpaper.
Our tea table set in blue and white
Tea Selection
The first order of business is selecting our tea (each guest chooses one). A silver basket with a variety of teas is presented, including some Twinings teabags, but of course, we gravitate to the loose leaf teas, choosing Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie and Chocolate Caramel Creme Brulee, both of which are temptingly sweet without any added sugar.
Admiring our pretty, glossy white teapots
Teapot envy
We wonder at the secret of Dreamcakes Cafe’s blueberries — exceptionally huge and delicious, though blueberry season is over. Water is always appreciated to rehydrate when drinking tea, and we jump at the offer to sip this mineral-rich water bottled at an Alabama spring north of Birmingham.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Tea table fully stocked and ready for the partaking
Two kinds of finger sandwiches on soft bread are served: the cafe’s signature chicken salad, and pimiento cheese with homemade maple bacon jam, both tasty and filling.
Scones are soft and well made, including a seasonal glazed pumpkin scone
Egg cups cleverly used to serve clotted cream and jam
The most varied course, dessert, is yummy without being overly sweet, including just-right madeleines, lemon squares, soft-inside brownies topped with chocolate frosting and candied pecans, macarons, and buttery shortbread rounds crowned with lemon frosting and edible flowers.
We love comments! Destination Tea's comment policy shares a guiding principle with afternoon tea etiquette: please be gracious. We welcome honest comments that are not rude or scathing.
