Most of us have somewhere we head to for a coffee and cake break, but have you considered popping somewhere for a cup of tea? Tearooms conjure up the bygone image of elegant and refined socializing and were very fashionable in the late 1800’s. At the time tea was an expensive and heavily taxed luxury for the rich and tearooms provided elegant and well-designed social venues for well-to-do women socialising without male company.

Nowadays tea is a staple in most houses and not considered a luxury at all but if you want to make it feel a bit more special and discover a whole lot more about tea at the same time then visit one of these tea shops in Edinburgh, nowadays no-one will bat an eye if you don’t have male company with you, in fact feel free to take a male too!

Pekoe Tea

PekoeTea is a family run, Edinburgh business that started as online tea traders in 2006. They have one of the best ranges of high-grade loose-leaf teas in Scotland and supply many retail and catering outlets all over. Most of their teas are imported from source. They stock over 100 loose teas and infusions from around the world and are part of the Ethical Tea Partnership.

In 2010 they opened their first retail shop and Tea Bar (they now have two) and what better way to learn about the tea you are drinking and all the amazing varieties than by popping in, sitting down at the tea bar and drinking some expertly made tea first. They also have a nice selection of delicious cakes and macarons to tempt you too.

If there is anything you need to know about tea and tea drinking the staff here will be more than able to help you. You can buy tea accessories and coffee to take home too.

Buy online – www.pekoetea.co.uk
Visit Tea Shop – 55 Raeburn Place or 20 Leven Street, Edinburgh

Eteaket

Eteaket are leaf tea experts and they take their love and expertise of tea very seriously. They opened their tearoom and online store in 2008 to share their passion for the world of loose-leaf tea and to rekindle Britain’s love of proper leaf tea too. They visit tea gardens around the world to bring us the very best, and are also a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership.

They have an award-winning tearoom on Frederick Street where Afternoon Tea is a must, but then so is their cream tea! This experience will make you wonder why tearooms went out of fashion. The staff will make you the perfect cuppa to go with it and answer any tea trivia you may have so you can decide what kind of tea to go for. Once you have found one you love you will also be able to buy it to take home. They also have lovely tea ware and gift sets too.

Buy online – www.eteaket.co.uk
Visit Tea Room – 41 Frederick Street, Edinburgh

Rosevear Tea

Isabelle and Adam Rosevear created the Rosevear Tea brand. They discovered the vast world of tea possibilities in the many tea boutiques of the French capital and wanted to bring something to the Edinburgh community by offering the opportunity to share their passion for quality leaf teas.

They have an online shop where you can stock up but obviously getting to sample taste a tea before you buy is a big bonus and you can do this by visiting their teashop. The row upon row of huge black tea jars show the variety they have in store for you and the fragrance hits your nose when they open them. They can answer all your questions, but seriously don’t just go in to buy and takeaway. Sit down, get some delicious cake and drink your tea in there. The ambience is so lovely and like my granny used to say a cup of tea can set the world to rights.

Buy Online – www.roseveartea.co.uk
Visit Tea Shop – 100 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh