Warm up and experience a world of flavor at these Jersey Shore tea shops

Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press

Tea is so much more than that little bag in your cupboard. On a cold winter's day, it can warm you up while you finish the book you received over the holidays.

At the Jersey Shore, tea shops transport you to the rainforests of India or the tropical coasts of Southern China. Some offer fun flavors like Alice in Wonderland or Sleeping Beauty.

If you want more than just a cup, tea experiences include sandwiches, scones and more. And it's the perfect time to take it all in, as January is National Tea Month.

Start your sippin' at these shops.

A Sweet Memory Cake Shoppe & Tea Room, Waretown

A Sweet Memory Cake Shoppe & Tea Room in Waretown.
A Sweet Memory Cake Shoppe & Tea Room in Waretown.

Bakery-fresh sweets and tea can be enjoyed at this shop, decorated with antique china, teapots, linens and lace.

Classic "High Tea" by reservation is a five-course meal of garden salad, seasonal soup, four varieties of tea sandwich, scones with creams and jams, and an assortment of petite desserts for $32.95 per person.

You can also enjoy a la carte items like cucumber canapes (seasonal cream-cheese stuffed cucumbers) and butternut squash soup. Try the Trio Tea Sampler, which comes with three teas and soup or salad.

Choices include flavored black teas like Tropical Fire (cinnamon and cloves blended tropical fruit); flavored green teas like Alice in Wonderland (a fruity blend); and flavored rooibos like caffeine-free Ginger Lemon Honey (freshly ground ginger root, tart lemon peel and organic honey granules).

Go: 521 Route 9, Waretown; 609-242-0153, asweetmemory.net.

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Lady Magpie's Tea & Curiosities, Tuckerton

A cup of soup at Lady Magpie's Tea & Curiosities in Tuckerton.
A cup of soup at Lady Magpie's Tea & Curiosities in Tuckerton.

This shop is located in the Captain's House at the Tuckerton Seaport, with a whimsical Steampunk aesthetic.

They offer multiple tea experiences including Captain's Tea for $35.99: cup of soup, an assortment of finger sandwiches, a scone with clotted cream and jam, and an array of desserts with a pot of tea.

Try quirky teas like Lady Magpie's Curious Tea (Assam tea with dried ginger, pear and vanilla) or The Grand Arbiter's Existential Despair (high caffeine content Pu'er tea with plum essence and honey brandy).

Book themed stairs, Steampunk decor and clocks, as well as nautical nods to the Captain's House in which it's located, seen at Lady Magpie's Tea & Curiosities in Tuckerton.
Book themed stairs, Steampunk decor and clocks, as well as nautical nods to the Captain's House in which it's located, seen at Lady Magpie's Tea & Curiosities in Tuckerton.

This inviting-hub also offers to-go items like cups of tea for $3, and half a dozen scones or cupcakes for $20. It also regularly hosts vendors, craft shows, open-mic nights and more.

Editor's note: This tea house will be closed for most of January, aside from special events listed on their website. They will resume reservations on Friday, Feb. 2.

Go: 120 W, Main St., Tuckerton; 609-597-7550, ladymagpiestea.com.

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The Lillagaard, Ocean Grove

In the historic town of Ocean Grove, the Lillagaard bed and breakfast serves a quaint setting for afternoon tea. Built in 1871, and just steps from the beach and boardwalk, visitors enjoy the fine china and Twinning's brand tea.

The Garden Room offers a Victorian setting for private tea parties, with a minimum of 15 guests. Open from late April to mid-October, reservations for 2024 are now being taken.

Go: The Lillagaard, 5 Abbott Ave., Ocean Grove. 732-988-1216; lillagaard.com

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Mathis House, Toms River

An assortment of scones, finger sandwiches, teas and other treats at Mathis House in Toms River.
An assortment of scones, finger sandwiches, teas and other treats at Mathis House in Toms River.

Enjoy afternoon tea among delicate decorations, and feast upon scones with jams, finger sandwiches and more at this Victorian bed and breakfast. They also host events like Murder Mystery nights and Princess Tea parties.

For National Hot Tea Month, they are open by reservation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays in January. Enjoy two homemade scones with clotted cream, preserves and lemon curd, and a full pot of tea for $25.

Try gourmet teas like Almond Cookies (Rooibos Tea with an almond, coconut taste with grated coconut and almond flakes), and China Sechung Oolong (delicate-flavored, semi-fermented tea with large curled leaves).

Go: 600 Main St., Toms River; 732-818-7580, mathishouse600main.com.

Oh You, TEAse

Frosty's On Fleek, limited edition holiday tea from Oh You, TEAse.
Frosty's On Fleek, limited edition holiday tea from Oh You, TEAse.

This Monmouth County-based online shop features teas like Stop and Smell the Roses (black vanilla tea, black rose tea and rose petals), the popular Emerald City (green tea with spearmint leaves), Sleeping Beauty (caffeine-free red rooibos, vanilla and lavender flowers) and more.

Most bags are priced around $12.50.

“If we could all pause for just a minute, for one cup of tea, just to center ourselves and treat ourselves to a little bit of happiness, our lives would be so much better," said owner Anna Rose Rotondi-Kauser in a previous interview.

Go: 917-816-5455, ohyoutease.com.

Sweet Tease Tea Room, Belmar

An assortment of loose leaf teas from Sweet Tease Tea Room in Belmar.
An assortment of loose leaf teas from Sweet Tease Tea Room in Belmar.

This tea room hosts everything from cookie decorating seminars to drag shows — and they have their own World of Tea Book Club that meets once a month with perks like free tea.

The $41.50 per person ($25 per child), 90-minute Afternoon Tea includes a "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" themed menu, starting off with Belgian Chocolate Rooibos, Oompa Loompa Salad (salad dusted with cacao), bites like Cotswold's Chicken Salad and Golden Egg salad, chocolate chunk scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and sweets like Fizzy Lifting Lemon Posset.

Try other teas like the Margaret's Hope Darjeeling (hints of currant; almost wine-like taste), and Kyoto Sencha Cherry Rose (green tea, sweet cherry flavoring and subtle hints of rose). They also serve lunch Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Go: 604 Main St., Belmar; 732-722-8030, sweetteasetearoom.com.

TeaScapes, Atlantic Highlands

For National Hot Tea Month, this tea shop is offering a buy-one-get-one 50% off sale on all bagged teas online.

Try teas like Assam, a rich, full bodied organic black tea from the Assam region of India; Dragonwell, a popular Chinese green tea, also known as Lung Ching, with mellow floral notes); or Exotic Grey, an exotic twist on Earl Grey.

Go: teascapes.com.

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Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore: Tea houses offer a world of flavor, experiences

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