Jolie Tea Company: Afternoon Tea in Salem, Massachusetts
If you’re new here, you may not know that I love afternoon tea. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I visit the UK and since I’ve been back in Boston, I’ve been on the hunt for some great afternoon tea experiences closer to home. To be honest, I’ll probably make a series of afternoon tea reviews, I enjoy it that much!
My first Massachusetts afternoon tea came about after checking out a few places, and deeming them a little out of my budget for the next little while. Then, I broadened the search a little further from where I live, and I found this gem. Jolie Tea Company in Salem is such a cute and charming little place right in the downtown area.
Afternoon tea is offered every day with or without a reservation. I’d recommend booking in advance, as it’s quite a small venue, and you may not be able to walk in and get a table. The tea is $32 per person (before tax) and includes a welcome tea drink, a pot of tea of your choice, and a three-tier stand of sandwiches and sweets. There is also space for a private afternoon tea, if that’s something you’re interested in.
Can we talk about how cute this table setup is? The plates and tea mugs are all mismatched in a strangely matching way. We were treated to a beautiful “welcome” glass of iced vanilla rooibos while we decided on one of the many teas they had on offer. The tea selection was LARGE - black, white, green, and herbal - so this decision took more time than I’d like to admit.
In the end, I decided on the Jacqueline Kennedy Blend - a black tea with rose, blackcurrant, and vanilla inspired by the former First Lady. I highly recommend, and will probably be going back to purchase it in bulk! This color three-tiered treat stand was the star of the show. We were given some tea sandwiches, a lemon scone and a madeleine, and two incredible macarons. The purple one was an intense lavender, SO GOOD, and the blue-ish one was a beautiful Earl Grey flavor that I couldn’t get enough of.
Overall, the experience was great. It was casual but still felt like a special time out with friends. The tea was fantastic and the treat were pretty amazing as well. I’d highly recommend checking out Jolie Tea Company. Not interested in afternoon tea or just looking for something quick? They have a little cafe area, a large wall of loose-leaf teas for purchase, and a pretty impressive sweets and macaron display to pick something up to go.
I’ll definitely be going back to Jolie Tea Company again, and will be exploring some other Boston-area tea places. Have you been to an afternoon tea in the Boston area, feel free to put your recommendations in the comments below. I’m going to need some more tea content in my life :)
And of course, stay safe, text your friends, and drink some tea.