Destination Tea Reviews/Maryland

Destination Tea: Montpelier Mansion

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Where:  Laurel, Maryland
Style:  Georgian
Tea Selection:  2 loose leaf teas
Teatimes:  Monthly teas with multiple seatings
Reservations:  Reserved with credit card (teas can sell out weeks in advance)
Contact:  301-377-7817
Cost: $30 Holiday Tea (ages 18 and up); $26 Members (includes gratuity and self-guided tour)
Destination Tea Tip:  Upon entering the Montpelier Mansion grounds, follow signs for the mansion, winding around to the parking lot and then walk up a brick path to the house. Be sure to allow time for a visit to the gift shop and your self-guided tour of this historical home.

Prices and teatimes are subject to change. Please see our Maryland afternoon tea directory for the latest details.

Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, MD

Destination Tea Notes:  The volunteer staff at Montpelier Mansion has thought of everything to make their afternoon tea events special, from decorations to favors, from gracious service to a masterfully catered menu provided by The Tea Trolley in Delta, Pennsylvania. Celebrating a holiday by taking tea at this 18th-century estate feels like we are properly ringing in the season. A light snowfall envelopes the mansion as we settle in for a scrumptious tea by a bedecked fireplace. Afterwards we dip a toe into the past during our self-guided tour and find locally made gifts at the mansion’s holiday Artists’ Boutique. Wisely, while bidding us farewell, Montpelier Mansion staff announce upcoming teas for the year, and if we were locals, we would be making every effort to miss not a one of them!

Walking to Montpelier Mansion from the parking lot
Approaching the mansion from the parking lot
Entering Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, MD
Entering through the gift shop
Table for tea at Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, MD
We step back in time at our fireside table for two beautifully decorated with wintry greenery. An unexpected treat:  favors sit at our places – handmade soaps infused with tea — cleverly labeled with upcoming tea dates at the mansion. 
Tea room at Montpelier Mansion
The cheerful yellow tea room decorated with Christmas colors is brightly lit by the sun reflecting off the snow outside.

Tea Service

For this winter tea, mansion volunteers serve two options — a Montpelier blend (Darjeeling) and a Coconut Almond Snowflake black tea (fabulous). We enjoyed copious amounts of our favorite, thanks to the servers’ diligent attentions.

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

Sweet scones from the Tea Trolley in Delta, PA
The Tea Trolley’s signature sweet scones have perfect texture, and are a bit sweet for us, so we share one between us.
It’s the little things that make afternoon tea special, like these tiny teapot handles on our condiment spoons.
Tea sandwiches at Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, MD
The Tea Trolley hits the mark with creative and tasty sandwiches that counter the winter chill with a taste of the tropics, with pineapple-ham, spinach cream cheese, mango chutney and chicken salad with grape sandwiches. Yum!
Desserts at Montpelier Mansion afternoon tea
The desserts are too good. We savor our mint chocolate cupcake, white chocolate orange truffle, pecan tartlet and — saving the best for last — an eggnog cheesecake (yes!).
Tour pamphlet at Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, MD
Time for our self-guided tour of this 18th century home
Touring Montpelier Mansion
Tea service laid out in the family living room
Gift shop finds at Montpelier Mansion
Children’s tea sets, loose leaf teas, locally made gifts and other tea paraphernalia are for sale in the mansion gift shop.
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DestinationTea
Tea Voyageuse, discovering the world of afternoon tea, based in Atlanta, Georgia.

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