Take Time for Tea

 

One of the best things about taking time for tea is that it does exactly that. It takes time. It is a lovely process of slowing down, waiting for the leaves to steep, pouring and letting it cool enough to sip. The clanking sound of teacup on saucer signals to me time for writing, reading, thinking, talking, and resting. Depending on if I am alone or with someone. You can't have a cup of tea in a ceramic cup and saucer on the go. You must sit there and enjoy it. Ideally, you have a pot of tea on the table, so you can refill your cup. This in itself is a beautiful reminder of appreciating the little things and being present in the moment.

My favourite places to have tea in Oxford are Vaults & Garden and the Weston Library. Pictured here. I could visit these places every single day and not grow weary of them In fact, we kind of almost did visit each spot almost daily (perhaps not but close to it). And when we did not go, I missed being there enjoying tea and the atmosphere. 

The Vaults and Garden Café is inside the grand University Church St. Mary the Virgin. It is in a room from 1320 called the Congregation Room where meetings used to be held in the church for the community. With vaulted ceilings and beautiful framed windows, I never grow tired of the space. It gets really crowded at lunchtime, so patience is required as the queue to get in can be long. Outdoors there are tables as well, but you are at the mercy of the weather, which in England can be a bit temperamental. However, sitting outside offers the loveliest view of the Radcliffe Camera. The food served is organic and local, with a seasonal menu changing everyday. It's not only a favourite tea spot, but also lunch spot of mine. Warm and comforting food (soups, rice, potatoes, chicken, curry, fresh vegetables), plus a huge array of cakes (even a gluten free vegan banana bread cake! Heavenly!). The tea is unmatched. They use a high quality loose leaf tea selection, and I highly recommend the Earl Grey and the Jasmine Green. Serving trays are all William Morris prints - a lovely sight every time. You might even see the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams sitting outside in the garden for some lunch!

The Weston Library has a café inside Blackwell Hall. With views of the Bodleian Library above your head, it's a perfectly bookish space. I could sit there for hours. The Bodleian exhibits are also there, across Blackwell Hall, as well as one of the Bodleian gift shops. The café has a large selection of cakes, teas, and salad/sandwich lunch. I recommend the peppermint tea for a perfect afternoon break with a cake or treat. People watching here is grand. Out the front windows is Broad Street and within the Hall are many visitors who come and go.  

Writing about these two spots makes me miss them - missing their atmosphere and delicious teas and thoughts. There's nowhere else like them. Are there places like that for you?