TEA REVIEW #3
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Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 5 o'clock in the eveningPlace: Prince tea house, 3244 Holland Road Suite 110, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Afternoon tea isn’t something that immediately comes to mind when the temperatures outside are north of 90° and the humidity is 95%. However, the ritual of the journey, spending time with a cherished friend, choosing a brew and savoring some slow sips soothes even the sultriest climes.
Michelle and I have been thinking about trying the Prince tea house in Virginia Beach long before the solstice. We finally found some common time and made a plan to go. It didn’t take nearly as long as we thought it would to get there: the bridge and tunnel gods were clearly tea lovers too!
We got to our destination at just before 5 PM, a perfect time for tea. The Prince tea house is an independently owned franchise with 13 locations, eight of which are in New York. The Virginia Beach location is situated in a strip mall on a busy retail road not far from the beach. The shop front is very unassuming. However, upon entering, you are transported to another place.
The first thing I noticed was the soundtrack overhead, popular jazz standards sung in French. Coupled with the charming decor, the cheerful music puts you into a completely relaxed mood, ready to enjoy your tea.
We sat near the window and began to scan the menu. The selection of teas did not disappoint. You can choose from a number of green, black, white, oolong, and infused herbal teas. There were also fruit teas and hot milk teas to choose from.
We chose the afternoon tea for two: Michelle opted for a pot of grand Jasmine Chung Feng green tea. I chose a black Thè du Hamman. Mine was punchy with a floral overtone and smooth to the pallet. Michelle said her green tea, with its jasmine tones, only needed the smallest bit of sugar, as it was so, so lovely.
Our tea consisted of finger sandwiches: pastrami with Swiss cheese on pumpernickel, smoked salmon and avocado on cracked wheat, cucumber with tzatziki and crab meat with a garlic mayonnaise, both on white bread. A wasabi deviled egg rounded out the savory tier.
The second tier consisted of freshly baked scones with strawberry jam and cream. The scone had a delicate crumb and rustic shape, both lending credibility to its freshness.
The top-tier consisted of three dessert choices: a fruit tart, French macarons, (pistachio and salted caramel), and a molten chocolate mini cake. Again, all the desserts both appeared and tasted made from scratch.
The entire experience was delightful, but the most delightful part was the bill. Tea for two cost $54, $28 per person. This is the best value for tea we have seen yet!
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Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 5 o'clock in the eveningPlace: Prince tea house, 3244 Holland Road Suite 110, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Afternoon tea isn’t something that immediately comes to mind when the temperatures outside are north of 90° and the humidity is 95%. However, the ritual of the journey, spending time with a cherished friend, choosing a brew and savoring some slow sips soothes even the sultriest climes.
Michelle and I have been thinking about trying the Prince tea house in Virginia Beach long before the solstice. We finally found some common time and made a plan to go. It didn’t take nearly as long as we thought it would to get there: the bridge and tunnel gods were clearly tea lovers too!
We got to our destination at just before 5 PM, a perfect time for tea. The Prince tea house is an independently owned franchise with 13 locations, eight of which are in New York. The Virginia Beach location is situated in a strip mall on a busy retail road not far from the beach. The shop front is very unassuming. However, upon entering, you are transported to another place.
We sat near the window and began to scan the menu. The selection of teas did not disappoint. You can choose from a number of green, black, white, oolong, and infused herbal teas. There were also fruit teas and hot milk teas to choose from.
We chose the afternoon tea for two: Michelle opted for a pot of grand Jasmine Chung Feng green tea. I chose a black Thè du Hamman. Mine was punchy with a floral overtone and smooth to the pallet. Michelle said her green tea, with its jasmine tones, only needed the smallest bit of sugar, as it was so, so lovely.
The second tier consisted of freshly baked scones with strawberry jam and cream. The scone had a delicate crumb and rustic shape, both lending credibility to its freshness.
The top-tier consisted of three dessert choices: a fruit tart, French macarons, (pistachio and salted caramel), and a molten chocolate mini cake. Again, all the desserts both appeared and tasted made from scratch.
The entire experience was delightful, but the most delightful part was the bill. Tea for two cost $54, $28 per person. This is the best value for tea we have seen yet!
The Prince tea house is a perfect venue for a ladies' afternoon casual relaxing meet up. While you do forget you are in a strip mall for a while, it is not a high end enough location for a true event, such as a baby shower or bridal tea.
But, with all that said, we will definitely be back. And soon.
But, with all that said, we will definitely be back. And soon.
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