Destination Tea: Russian Tea Time

Where: Chicago, Illinois
Style:  Russian tearoom
Tea Selection:  24+ loose leaf teas
Teatimes:  Sunday to Monday 11 to 6, Tuesday to Saturday 11 to 8
Reservations: Reservations highly recommended for weekends; walk-ins welcome
Contact: 312-360-0000 or reserve here
Cost: $55.95 Queen Tea Service; $35.95 Regular Tea Service; $23 – $30 Sweets with Tea; $23 – $33 Tea Sandwiches with Tea; $16 Cream Tea
Destination Tea Tips: Upon arrival, guests have the opportunity to view the full lunch and tea service menu, so each guest may order to their liking. When ordering the afternoon tea service, see below for our notes about choosing your tea.

Prices and teatimes are subject to change. Please see our Illinois Afternoon Tea Directory for the latest details.

exterior Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL

Destination Tea Notes: One of the delights of exploring the United States’ tearooms is that you may have the chance to experience global cuisines and culture without going abroad. While today’s iconic afternoon tea service is renowned as a British custom, check out our Tea Story page and you’ll find that Russian tea ceremonies preceded the afternoon tea tradition. The Tea Road from China through Mongolia to Russia was established so that camel caravans could cross Siberia, to trade Russian furs and other goods for coveted Chinese teas and spices. Indeed, a Russian Caravan tea — like the Russian Breakfast tea offered at Russian Tea Time — gets its name from the trade route where this popular smoked black tea blend was accidentally invented. As traders traversed the long road to Moscow, smoke from their campfires would seep into the wooden tea chests, giving the tea a smoky flavor that became popular with Russian tea drinkers, as it recalls the warmth and comfort of a fire in the cold. At Russian Tea Time, you’ll sample classic Russian dishes and get to see some of their traditional teaware — like samovars and exquisite samovar covers (more about how these work below). Service here is attentive, and if you’re lucky, educational as well, as our lovely server Mark, a Russian expat, took the time to share his reflections on American vs. Russian culture. Friends converse over leisurely meals, sipping quality teas, or if you like, cocktails, imported beer, champagne or vodka flights (we don’t judge). One of the guests we spoke to commented that the tearoom itself (opened in 1993, remodeled in 2020) is the point of coming here; it just feels good to sit with friends in this charming setting, a pause from modern life.

interior at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — During our visit, only the front room was open for diners, but there is also a large banquet-sized room at back, similar in design.

front window table at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — Would love to gather under this chandelier at the front of the tearoom…

cozy booth at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — …or tuck into rich red booths for cozy conversation.

bar at at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — At the rear of the front room there is also a bar, where one might consider a vodka flight.

Tea Selection

premium tea sniff jars at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — The budget-conscious should know that the tea services come with a pot of tea from a standard menu of about a dozen teas. Pictured above are sniff jars for the Premium Tea Selection, which ranges from $14 to $35 as an add-on cost, but does include 2 or 3 infusions. This might be a better choice if you have plenty of tea drinkers around the table, to get your money’s worth.

Cream Oolong at at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — Sipping the yummy Cream Oolong, whose flavor profile is enchantingly described — like all the Premium Teas — as “a surprisingly delicious combination of flavorful, green oolong leaves bathed in rich milk. The sweet aroma from the dark green pellets is surpassed only by the creamy golden liquor.”

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

Queen Tea Service at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — Going with the higher end Queen Tea Service allows you to sample Russian pancakes with salmon roe.

savories at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — The savory course is a hearty one with 8 items offered: Herring Crostini, Smoked Salmon with Herbed Cream Cheese on Crostini; Cucumber-Radish with Herbed Cream Cheese on Crostini; Breaded Chicken Crostini; Potato Latke with Sour Cream, Ground Beef Roll, Sauerkraut Roll and Egg Salad Phyllo Cup.

Russian pancakes with caviar and scones with cream and jam at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — Russian pancakes can be filled with caviar, or the strawberry jam and cream provided for the raisin scones (which are more like bland, slightly sweet rolls, with a semi-springy consistency).

desserts at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — By the time you reach dessert, if you only have a bit of room left, go for the homemade winners in this 7-piece dessert course: Russian Tea Time’s house Napoleon (at right) and locally made honey cake (at top). Also included are a carrot cake, roulette, tiramisu cake, strawberry cake and their citrus pancake.

doll samovar cover at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — And what can this lovely lady be doing here? We present to you a beautiful, and clever samovar cover! (read on)

samovar at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — Samovars are metal urns traditionally used in Russia to serve tea, and are very handy when hosting a large tea party. A large quantity of water is heated in the urn, and separately a tea concentrate is at the ready in a teapot, which can be kept warm by placing it on top of the samovar. To serve, simply pour the appropriate amount of tea concentrate into a teacup, and dilute with hot water from the urn.

friends at afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Chicago, IL — Two friends enjoying the relaxed pace of an afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time

Post Views: 580

Tea Selection

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

You May Like

Leave a Comment Cancel reply