Harrogate Teas and Tea House, Pyrmont @Not Quite Nigella

Harrogate Teas and Tea House, Pyrmont

August 24, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella

When people ask me to find a place to meet, I am always happy to do so. For a food blogger, getting to choose a place means that we are going to eat at a place that a) we’ve never to before and b) might be new and exciting. So when meeting the lovely Bianca and Ainsley one morning, at 11:30am I thought where better to go but for Morning Tea at Harrogate teas, a shop which I happened to hear about from a lovely reader Maria who had stopped by there several months ago. Just a word of warning: don’t drink your Earl Grey with milk like I did! But more on that later…

All teas are Fair Trade and have been even before Fair Trade became Fair Trade, and the scones are made each morning by Greg who owns the business with Marjorie. Our waitress takes our order but not without recommending that we get at least one scone each as they’re made to Greg’s mum’s recipe. All of the other tables are reserved and it’s quiet and tranquil in this Victorian style Tea Room setting. The jam is a chunky strawberry and china is Royal Albert and there’s a tiered stand on the table. Things are just as they should be.

When choosing a tea I’m torn between trying my favourite, an Earl Grey, or trying another of their varieties but the waitress firmly suggests the Earl Grey. “When you taste it, you’ll think you haven’t tried better”. Ainsley order the China Rose Petal Tea and Bianca the Vanilla tea. We order some scones, a salmon sandwich and a couple of sweet slices. The teas arrive first and they’re all lovely aromatic blends but when I add sugar and milk to it a voice looms over my shoulder “You didn’t put milk in your Earl Grey did you?”. “Um yes, that’s how I like it” and she feigns mock horror and grabs an empty tea cup and pours some in it. “Try smelling it now”. I take a sniff and it’s true, the aroma is more pronounced without the tea and it’s a beautifully bergamoty blend but I have to insist that I like my Earl Grey with milk and sugar

Salmon sandwich $15 with a pot of tea

The salmon sandwiches are made fresh and there is smoked salmon and well as cooked salmon with slices of cucumber. It’s good although it tasted a touch watery perhaps from the seeds of the cucumber or the cooked salmon.

Scones

The scones are lovely and warm and light and I take some deliciously chunky strawberry jam from the strawberry bone china pot and thick cream. It is said to be clotted cream but appears more as a double cream to me.

Raspberry and Almond Slice

Butterscotch Burst Slice

We barely have enough time to try the slices while chatting . These aren’t made on the premises but the raspberry and almond one is particularly good with a crumbly almond biscuit to it and raspberry jam. The Butterscotch Burst is a firmer slice with a thick layer of butterscotchey caramel between crumbly biscuity layers (and thankyou for Bianca and Ainsley for giving me the slices to take away with me as we didn’t have time to finish them).

White Tea Canisters

Special Rare China White Leaf Tea

We walk downstairs to the tea shop and a have a quick look around. I take some photos outside and Marjorie comes out and says “Now did you have milk in your Earl Grey?”. I say “Nope not me” and then of course I fess up. She shows us some of their White Tea which is the most premium type of tea at $200 a kilo and this particular blend from the Fujian prvince can only be picked for a short time of the year (early Spring) and in certain weather conditions earning it the name “Special Rare China White Leaf Tea”. It also has a relatively low caffeine content (1-2% ) but the hightest antioxidant content as the slender, rolled silver leaves are unoxidosed and steamed.

So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite tea flavour?

Harrogate Teas and Tea Room

3 Union Street, Pyrmont 2000
Tel: +61 (02) 9571 6111
http://www.harrogateteasnsw.com.au/

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Posted in Afternoon and High Tea, Cheap Thrills $20 or under pp, Eating, English, Restaurants by cuisine, Sydney - CBD and inner city

47 Comments | Add your own

1. Maria T | August 24, 2009 at 6:38 am | #

They sure are serious about their tea!

A few good jiggles, black and in a big mug is how I like mine. Majorie would be horrified! My fingers are far too clumsy for dainty little cups of tea! Gorgeous to look at though!
2. Faith | August 24, 2009 at 7:27 am | #

What a lovely tea spread! This looks like it was so much fun. One of my favorite teas is rooibos…I’ll admit it’s not actually tea, but an herbal beverage brewed like tea. It’s got a lovely red color and a slight natural sweetness…delicious!
3. sandra | August 24, 2009 at 7:47 am | #

Wow you met some Tea Nazi’s!!!
My favourite tea is either earl grey or a good jasmine tea. I dont personally like milk in my earl grey but each to their own
4. Steph | August 24, 2009 at 8:16 am | #

Oh oh oh! I got excited from the first photo and just kept getting more excited throughout the post!! I have to go here, this is exactly the type of thing I am obsessed with!!! My current fav tea is those flower blossom teas, pretty and delicious
5. Zam | August 24, 2009 at 8:34 am | #

What a cute place – although the price of that sandwich (with tea) seems a bit steep for the look of it!

I love English & Irish Breakfasts, and Earl Grey – and I have mine with milk & sugar also. And T2’s ‘Sydney Breakfast’ (black tea & bergamot) is good too!
6. Anita | August 24, 2009 at 8:35 am | #

What a beautiful place to go to for morning tea..
7. Iron Chef Shellie | August 24, 2009 at 9:22 am | #

oh how dainty! I love tea houses, so upset the T2 one closed =(

My favorite as Earl Grey =) It has lots of flavour unlike English Breakfast which does nothing for me.
I still want to try making your earl grey cupcakes!

I also LOVE my green tea.
8. Betty | August 24, 2009 at 9:49 am | #

Oh, what a lovely find! I love getting to choose places to eat Hehe. I just love afternoon teas/high teas, everything is so pretty and dainty. I’m a green tea girl, but I also like a bit of chai tea to spice things up every now & again
9. Blanche | August 24, 2009 at 9:50 am | #

It’s a good thing you visited – as this place is on the slate to be knocked down (alongside it’s neighbouring historic terraces) to make way for the new northwest metro. This is despite the fact that there are other suitable places to build the metro entry in Pyrmont – such as the Star City extension.

Check out this website the community has put together:
http://www.saveunionsquare.com
and maybe take the time to sign their petition.

Thanks,

Blanche from Pyrmont
10. arista | August 24, 2009 at 10:00 am | #

I have milk in my Earl Grey too! but it’s not my favourite.

I either drink Rooibos, like the reader above, or just hot water.

Looks like a lovely tea house, but I prefer cafes to be a bit more rugged – I moved away from England to escape not just the cold weather, but also the prissiness (eg pretty teapots, dainty sandwiches and ‘you can’t put milk in your earl grey’)!!!!
11. giulia | August 24, 2009 at 10:17 am | #

Have you have tried Russian Caravan? Although I tend to like green rather than black tea, Russian Caravan blends a unique lightness and smokiness to it that is addicting. It’s hard to find but worth it. Definitely no milk or sugar!!! It will make you think of silver samovars and War and Peace…
Giulia – Los Angeles
12. Theresa | August 24, 2009 at 10:36 am | #

I am sorry to be negative, I wasn’t even there, but what is with the sprout/cherry tomatoe garnish. It’s horrific. It’s not old fashioned like the rest of the experience, it is just OLD.

Otherwise, what a lovely experience it must have been. I much prefer the little tea houses, rather than the upscale hotel high tea experience. There is a rather nice one in the mountains behind the Sunshine Coast. It is a combined antique/tea shop. Your post took me straight back there.
13. Cakelaw | August 24, 2009 at 11:07 am | #

So pretty! The butterscotch burst slice has my vote. As for tea flavours, I am quite boring – English Breakfast is my tea of choice.
14. Retrodaze | August 24, 2009 at 11:11 am | #

I love the last photo of the tea boxes, they look so pretty!

I definitely want to try this place out – I go to uni about five minutes away and have never even seen this place before! Thanks for the heads up
15. Cecilia | August 24, 2009 at 11:54 am | #

I love chai tea (Nervada brand), vanilla roobios and the good o’ english breakfast tea
16. Aubrey | August 24, 2009 at 12:49 pm | #

Delightful looking place and I’ve never seen it so thanku for the introduction. Was she being fierce about the milk and sug or was she joking. I don’t want to go and have her get mad at me. Harhar!
17. Sophia | August 24, 2009 at 1:13 pm | #

wow what a royally great place to have tea and sandwiches and scones! I like to choose the place, too, because I too like to try out new places. Usually when I eat out with others, if they are the one choosing we end up in the same old same old boring place!
18. Amy | August 24, 2009 at 2:04 pm | #

I’m really loving green tea with roasted rice. It’s tastes lovely @_@
19. Ladybird | August 24, 2009 at 2:11 pm | #

Hi Lorraine,

Yes I agree, always good to try new places.

In your opinion, where is the best high tea is Sydney? I am looking for somewhere to take my parents next time they visit Sydney.

When I say best I mean the whole package, the food, tea, service, ambience, value for money…

Any recommendations?

Ladybird
20. Amanda | August 24, 2009 at 5:01 pm | #

The tea canisters look exactly like the ones in The Tea Centre in Glasshouse on Pitt St Mall.

Perhaps they source their teas from them as well.

I like the scones special there with the Earl Grey Special (refreshing with a hint of lemongrass and jasmine).
21. Matilda | August 24, 2009 at 5:04 pm | #

To Ladybird, I have read that High tea at the Observatory Hotel is to die for but perhaps Lorraine has another place to suggest. I have been to The Tea Room at QVB and it’s excellent. I’m not a big tea drinker ( Cappuccino all the way for me ) but I do love all the bite-size nibbles of a High tea.
Thank you so much Lorraine, I received my Mayfair Lane stationery prize pack today and I’m a ‘happy little Vegemite’ It’s up on my fridge door!!
22. FFichiban | August 24, 2009 at 5:26 pm | #

Craving scones so badly right now… oh yeah getting into chai right now (esp with lots of honey hee hee)
23. Anja | August 24, 2009 at 5:43 pm | #

I’m not a tea drinker at all, but that looks like a really cute place. I didn’t know where you are located… In Germany is a city called pyrmont, too. regards
24. Moya | August 24, 2009 at 7:19 pm | #

Oh dear, don’t you hate it when they say it’s clotted cream and it turns out to be double? Yes we CAN tell the difference people! The taste, the texture and the appearance is quite different. I’ve always been a coffee drinker but have recently developed a love of strong tea, I like mixing an Earl Grey with a Lady Grey never any milk or sugar, on the other hand I love a Twinings afternoon tea with a Liptons intense tea with lots of milk and sugar!
25. Amy | August 24, 2009 at 7:49 pm | #

My favourite is definitely Earl Grey and I confess that I drink it with milk but not sugar. I have the sugar in my food…
26. Arwen from Hoglet K | August 24, 2009 at 8:11 pm | #

Sounds like a lovely atmosphere and the china is beautiful. I’m a fan of Earl Grey too, and my other favourite is a herbal blend with mint, lemon, lavender and ginger.
27. Anne | August 24, 2009 at 8:12 pm | #

My mother-in-law introduced me to Lapsang Souchong tea, and it’s definitely special. The aroma is overwhelming, and it makes me feel like I should be sitting in a tea house nestled on a pond strewn with lily pads. Having said that, I prefer coffee, although there’s nothing like a cup of tea with scones, jam and clotted cream in the afternoon. Looks like you had a lovely time.
28. Trissa | August 24, 2009 at 8:20 pm | #

This is embarrassing but I have never had high tea before. I think I may have to try this wonderful tradition one of these days!
29. Panda | August 24, 2009 at 10:09 pm | #

this shop is gorgeous! although sounds like it was a little expensive?

i’m not very exciting but my favourite tea would be english breakfast – i just can’t get enough of it.
30. Mike | August 24, 2009 at 10:39 pm | #

A nice place in the hub of Pyrmont. Looks like a family run place which is good to see.
31. 5 Star Foodie | August 24, 2009 at 11:15 pm | #

This place sounds great, awesome pastries & sandwiches too. I love trying different flavors of teas – right now a blueberry green tea is my favorite.
32. Jacq | August 25, 2009 at 12:07 am | #

Oh wow I never knew there was a Harrogate tea house in Pyrmont. I don’t think I’ve quite learnt to appreciate tea yet but I do love a good scone I really like the little gemstones on the end of the spoon!
33. Parita | August 25, 2009 at 12:14 am | #

This place sounds too good! Loved the tea set
34. nora@ffr | August 25, 2009 at 12:29 am | #

tea is my all time favorite drink!! sure will visit here to have a lovely cup of tea
35. grace | August 25, 2009 at 1:14 am | #

well, if i were going to attend a tea party, this is where i’d like to go. everything from the china to the sweets looks amazing!
36. pigpigscorner | August 25, 2009 at 3:25 am | #

hehe yes! I love choosing where to eat too, it’s always nice to explore new places. This place is really nice, I love having tea..everything is so pretty.
37. Blond Duck | August 25, 2009 at 5:35 am | #

Those are my mother’s favorite dishes!
38. anna | August 25, 2009 at 6:05 am | #

Blech, I can’t imagine anyone actually liking rooibos. I had a favorite bagged tea growing up (Emperor’s Choice from Celestial Seasonings, very cinnamony) and then they went and changed it to a rooibos blend and it was just vile. I’ve moved on to loose teas since then and I drink gunpowder every morning, sometimes English/Irish Breakfast with a dried rosebud in the afternoon, genmai-cha on rainy days or when watching a movie (because it tastes like popcorn!), kukicha if I want to pretend I’m eating vegetables, jasmine or chai as a special treat…sometimes I just experiment with blends and dried flowers. I’d love to get a proper matcha whisk and bowl but for now it’s relegated to a baking ingredient only.

I really wish we had a tea place like that around here! People are too focused on coffee. Which is ok once in a very great while but nowhere near as interesting and varied as tea!
39. Alfie | August 25, 2009 at 9:30 am | #

thanks for the review. I have just moved to Pyrmont and walked pasted that place. I wasn’t sure if I should give it a go. Will do now!! thanks. Loving all your posts.
40. sissyhankshaw | August 25, 2009 at 9:46 am | #

I adore afternoon tea, thanks for the great pics!

I’m totally with you on the clotted cream/double cream issue – I lived in Cornwall for a couple of years (the home of clotted cream!) and there is a HUGE difference between the two!

There was an amazing tea shop in my local village that did fresh scones with clotted cream and homemade jam, a huge variety of teas in delicate cups and saucers in a tiny room with lacy curtains on the windows – the whole nine yards! I had to limit myself to one visit a month or I would have ended up the size of a house!

T2 in Hornsby Westfield is a lovely, modern teahouse with plush chairs, mismatched cups and teapots and a great range of tea and cakes. They also do a great ‘kid’s afternoon tea’ with cold fruit tea in a little teapot with a tiny cup and saucer and a decorated mini cupcake. SO divine!
41. Megan | August 25, 2009 at 9:56 am | #

I absolutely LOVE Lady Grey tea, with milk . One of my girlfriends can’t stomach Earl Grey for some reason, but Lady Grey she can and its a firm favourite with her also. I also love the black lavender tea from the QVB tearoom.
42. Lisa | August 25, 2009 at 1:51 pm | #

Hello
I really love reading your blog. It’s very well written and you go to some really interesting places…
I was always a coffee drinker up until I got married almost six years ago. My husband on the other hand was always a tea drinker – but ones of those 10 cup a day tea drinkers. Well they do say you pick up habits from your partners…I now love a good cup of tea – and my husband is a coffee ’snob…but thankfully he doesn’t drink 10 cups of coffee a day! Oh and by the way, I Love Love Love Earl Grey tea – it’s my favourite…and I love it even more with milk and sugar too!
Happy Drinking…
43. Mei | August 25, 2009 at 3:34 pm | #

oh this place is just 5 minutes down the street from my place! i always wondered what it was, it’s never open when i wander by – i’m so excited it’s high tea, can’t wait to try it out those scones look delish i’m a sucker for scones. thank you thank you for this review – i’m so heading there this weekend or the next!
44. ArtemisIII | August 26, 2009 at 12:26 am | #

I love high tea.

I can’t believe you added milk to you Earl Grey! That is considered an insult!!!!!

But it all looks so delicious
45. Su-yin | August 26, 2009 at 5:31 am | #

Mmmmm scones and tea! The best combination ever. I love scones with either jam or orange marmalade.. can’t handle clotted cream though.

I think my favourite teas are Twining’s English Breakfast and green tea with brown rice.
46. Not Quite Nigella | August 30, 2009 at 4:24 pm | #

Hi Maria-Haha I think she would be busy being horrified at me! Aww I’m sure your fingers are dainty enough!

Hi Faith-It was! Ahh yes I now a few people that love it too!

Hi sandra-Haha I did! Hehe you wouldn’t tell me off?

Hi Steph-I know! How lovely is high tea? Oh yes the ones where the flower opens up?

Hi Zam-Yes I would have liked more smoked salmon than tinned Aha good taste! Oh that sounds lovely as I like bergamot!

Hi Anita-It was lovely!

Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Me too! I think there are some here that are still open. Sorry to hear about your one closing! Ahh yes it has much more of a bouquet doesn’t it! Oooh please do!

Hi Betty-hehe I love finding new places! Ah yes love Chai tea too!

Hi Blanche-Oh no, what a shame. I noticed the signage on the side of the store. Thanks for letting us know!

Hi arista-Hehe just don’t do it there! Ahh yes this is a very English style I suppose but I love that!

Hi giulia-Oh yes I like that one too and I was drawn to it for the name!

Hi Theresa-Hehe that’s ok! Yes it was an unusual touch for a traditional High Tea. Oh that place sounds wonderful!

Hi Cakelaw-Well you’ve certainly got a very popular choice!

Hi Retrodaze-They were very pretty. Yes it’s a bit hidden away off the mains roads but it’s lovely.

Hi Cecilia -Yumm! They sound great!

Hi Aubrey-YOu’re more than welcome! She was being funny If she was being fierce I would have been very annoyed!

Hi Sophia-it’s so quiet and nice there. Oh no, that’s a crime for a food blogger!

Hi Amy -Oh yes I’ve heard that is lovely!

Hi Ladybird-Hmm the best High Tea is hard but I really like the Sheraton on the Park and the Sir Stamford

Hi Amanda-They said that they source them from the UK so perhaps it is the same place? Interesting-Earl Grey with lemongrass and jasmine?

Hi Matilda-I’d love to try the Observatory one but haven’t yet. yes me too, it’s so dainty and lovely! Oh wonderful! I’m so glad that you like it!

Hi FFichiban-Hehe you should take your boys and go to a High Tea! It’s not just for girls!

Hi Anja-Ahh there is? What a coincidence! Well this is is sunny Sydney

Hi Moya-yes I was a bit concerened a the definite double cream when it saiad clotted cream (if she can be a tea nazi I can be a cream nazi )

Hi Amy-Ahh interesting! I love sweet, milky teas

Hi Arwen-It was very nice and soothing Sounds like a lovely fragrant blend!

Hi Anne-Ahh yes I have smelt that once! It wasn’t for me (it smelt like bacon and cigarettes to me ) but I know plenty of people that like it! We did!

Hi Trissa-Oh no! Yes it’s time to fix that most certainly!

Hi Panda-it wasn’t cheap but it isn’t bad for Sydney That’s a very popular choice!

Hi Mike-Yes there is a couple that own it and yes a nice family run business

Hi 5 Star Foodie-Wow, blueberry green tea? how amazing!

Hi Jacq-yes a good scone is wonderful isn’t it! They were very cute!

Hi Parita-yes Royal Albert is so classic isn’t it!

Hi nora-I’m crazy for it too Definitely!

Hi grace-Hehe yes indeed!

Hi pigpigscorner-Hehe life as a food blogger huh?

Hi Blond Duck-Your mum has great taste!

Hi anna-Ahhwell everyone has different tastes-I don’t mind rooibos. Wow you are a tea afficianado and enthusiast! yes many places love coffee but tea is my drink!

Hi Alfie-Oh wonderful! That’s great and I hope that you like it! Thanks so much

Hi sissyhankshaw-You’re welcome! yes and the two are so different aren’t they! WOw, I love those kinds of places where the realness oozes from every pore! Haha yes ah that’s why we don’t do it that often I’ve heard T2 do nibblies to go along with their tea too but I’ve never been.

Hi Megan-Ooh yes Lady Grey is wonderful! A friend of mine finds it soapy which I suppose is its floralness. Black lavender sounds amazing!

Hi Lisa-Thankyou so much! Wow 10 cups a day! he is a real enthusiast then! I think 10 cups of tea is probably better than 10 cups of coffee. Thankyou!

Hi Mei-Oh cool! I hope you like them! If you’re a scone addict, the ones at the QVB Tea Room are my absolute favourite ever ever!

Hi ArtemisIII-Haha to whom? The Earl?

Hi Su-yin-Isn’t it just? Aww no, do you like double cream though? Or no cream at all? I think I’ve tried that green tea with roasted rice while I wa sliving in Japan-it was nice from what I recall
47. EY | November 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm | #

Wish I knew this place when I lived in Sydney!!
Looks fantanstic place.
Thanks for the info!