Update: Tea Leaves and Thyme closed the teahouse in October 2021 and now sells teas online.
Where: Downtown Woodstock, Georgia Style: Southern Whimsy Tea Selection: 50+ loose leaf teas Teatimes:Tuesday-Saturday 10-4 Reservations: Strongly suggested; Walk-ins welcome Contact: 770-516-2609 Cost:$22 Queen’s Tea; $21 Children’s Character Tea; $16.50 Classic Afternoon Tea; $13 Light Afternoon Tea; $12 Mad Hatter’s Children’s Tea Destination Tea Tips: Seasonal teas and special events are posted on their website. This popular teahouse does book up, so be sure to call ahead to reserve your teatime. Everyone in your party may individually choose whether to order from the lunch menu, a tea menu, or a combination of the two. Sponsor Disclaimer: At the time of this posting, Tea Leaves and Thyme is a Destination Tea advertiser. That said, we expect all our write-ups to be both gracious and honest (and every now and then, super-rad).
Destination Tea Notes: Tea Leaves and Thyme Hostess Kim Jordy has been serving up a homemade afternoon tea repast for more than 20 years, and it shows. In a historic home opposite the railroad tracks, you pass a board in the foyer welcoming reserved tea guests by name, as you make your way to a tea table in the enclosed front porch or one of four rooms with tables tucked around fireplaces. Here, you’ll easily convert your friends and family into afternoon tea lovers, because this experience comes with all the trappings. Gracious, knowledgable servers who are attentive without rushing you? Check. Bottomless pots of quality and flavored teas? Check. Scrumptious, made-from-scratch tea tray goodies? Check. Vintage flair that takes you back in time — from tea cups to tea dresses to antique decor? Check. While afternoon tea can feel like an extravagant treat, it is so reasonably priced here that your wallet won’t think so. Simply, Tea Leaves and Thyme is the quintessential teahouse.
Tea Leaves and Thyme is one of the longest-operating teahouses in the country.
Sunlit enclosed porch
Watching the trains go by, as we sip from dainty china
In fall 2019, lovely lace tablecloths lend elegance to tables inside the enclosed porch.
This large room is popular for large parties, like bridal showers and tea tours.
The cheery yellow rooms of the teahouse each seat several tables. Stained glass accents decorate large windows that peer onto the front porch and gift shop.
Tea Service
Our server points out the crowd favorite (Snowflake) and her own favorite (Strawberry Cream) from this extensive menu. Her recommendations and our adventurous choices are all delicious.
Our first pot of many – steeped and filtered in the kitchen, then poured through the antique strainer for ceremonial effect before settled on its warmer
When we return with the Atlanta Tea Society for a Queen’s Tea during the holidays, our server welcomes us with Very Berry tea sparklers and a ready pot of Cathy’s pumpkin pie (excellent choice).
We delight over our varied teacups’ beautiful designs. Next we choose Empress of Japan, a green-black tea blend, followed by African Autumn Rooibos.
Owner Kim has such an intimate knowledge of all her teas, she can identify what we’ve ordered by the fragrance the teapot top gives off. We are grateful for her help in choosing tea pairings, finishing the meal with Winter Dream.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Queen’s Tea
Queen’s Tea begins with a side salad and choice of tomato pecan or apple cheddar soup – so good, and the fresh greens are much appreciated.
Each guest then selects one of the following: Chicken Salad Croissant, Chicken Salad on Lettuce or Sun-dried Tomato Tartlet. The chicken salad is tasty with a satisfying crunch from celery and sliced almonds.
Queen’s Tea for five ladies serves three scone flavors: vanilla, cranberry and roasted pecan – oh my!!
Pots of cream and lemon curd for sweetening up the scrumptious scones
Tea sandwiches include ham, pimento on German wheat, cucumber and mint and pineapple on cinnamon swirl.
Each of these desserts is tempting in its own right: raspberry nut souffle, chocolate nut crunch fruit bar, raspberry muffin and brownie with mint icing.
Classic Afternoon Tea
When we heard cream of artichoke was the soup of the day, we couldn’t resist adding it à la carte to our afternoon tea menu — a wise move on our part.
With the Classic Afternoon Tea, you may select either a Chicken Salad Croissant, Chicken Salad on Lettuce or Sundried Tomato Tartlet (a delicious savory-sweet quiche-like concoction).
“We don’t bake bread” is the simplest way for Kim Jordy to explain that nearly every item on Tea Leaves and Thyme’s menu is made in-house. Fresh fruit accompanies scones served with a whipped almond cream and lemon curd. An edible orchid graces the sandwich tier, which includes classic cucumber mint, pimiento cheese, pineapple cream cheese on raisin, and ham striped sandwiches. The dessert tier treated us to crème de menthe brownies, blueberry muffins with amaretto cream, chocolate chip fruit bars (our favorite) and (luscious) lemon bars.
Fun hats and dresses stand by for those inclined to dress the part.
You pay your bill inside the gift shop, which is hard to traverse without being tempted to browse, so leave a little extra time to enjoy yourself here.
The perfect place to holiday shop for your tea-loving friends.
We had our daughter’s wedding reception there 6 years ago! It was the cutest thing ever…a wedding afternoon tea! To this day still our friends and family talk about it. Mrs. Kim and her staff always go beyond the expectations. Now we are hosting our 2nd daughter’s bridal tea party there. We can’t wait!!
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I miss this place! Thanks for sharing.
We had our daughter’s wedding reception there 6 years ago! It was the cutest thing ever…a wedding afternoon tea! To this day still our friends and family talk about it. Mrs. Kim and her staff always go beyond the expectations. Now we are hosting our 2nd daughter’s bridal tea party there. We can’t wait!!