Get Lost with Lisa

Enter into a world of English charm, in a city you may not expect to find it.

A Classy Afternoon

Most of us relish in the idea of being in an environment that is foreign to our own (if only for a  short time). I for one love the opportunity to dress up (amongst others who do the same) and have a special reason to do it. In this case, that place and reason are The London Tea Room located in St. Louis, Missouri. While other tea time establishments in the U.S. offer floppy hats and small cucumber sandwiches, this is truly an authentic British experience.

I had the opportunity to visit The London Tea Room, and meet and speak with owner Jackie James, who gave me the run down on how her business started, why it’s so special to her and to the city and everything else related to her super unique little spot.

Jackie’s Story

Originally from Surrey, England, her childhood was mostly spent in Surrey and Hampshire. Though by her early twenties she’d moved to the States, she couldn’t deny her English beginnings. Something which played a major role in her deciding to open her very British business.

“The Tea Room opened in 2007 and was an addition to my parents’ furniture store which sold reproduction and antique furniture brought over from the U.K.,” she tells me.  She goes on to say that it started off much smaller than what it has become today.

“We started small with a little café and tea shop adjoined to the large furniture store.  Over the years we have grown and are now focused on Afternoon Tea service and our loose leaf tea business.”  

And lest you think Jackie is merely a woman who loves the taste of a good pot of tea, she’s a pro at it.

“I am a World Tea Academy certified tea sommelier and tea professional.  Our staff go through a Tea 101 class when they start.  Plus they get to enjoy our 70 plus loose leaf teas every day,” Jackie tells me with enthusiasm.  And who wouldn’t be excited about working here? Not only are their teas incredibly delicious and smooth (and diverse in flavor and creativity), but their food is beyond scrumptious.

Something else that is important to note about Jackie’s business is that they aren’t just a full tea service establishment. Their brand of tea is coined The London Tea Merchant, which you can purchase in stores in different parts of the U.S.. The London Tea Room doesn’t just serve teas that are made specifically by their signature brand though. They also offer teas from wholesalers in the U.S., Germany, Canada, Columbia and India.


But let’s talk about the tea – because that’s why we’re all here, right?  And specifically, let’s talk about my terribly fun experience at The London Tea Room.

I had a blast here! In some ways it was like getting to play dress up and have a tea party all by myself, with people serving me  – which made it all the more fun. I had the pleasure of getting to try 4 different teas, my favorite of which might just have been the first, which just so happens to be their most popular tea on the menu – The Naughty Vicar. I know, what cheeky British humor. But the fact remains, this is a killer tea. And to boot, it’s a black tea, and I am not a huge fan of black teas. This ‘Naughty Vicar’ though might just turn me around to them.

The notes are vanilla and blackcurrant, and it will sweep you away to a realm of deliciousness.

And as far as their most popular food item, Jackie tells me that while their menu changes quite often, the clotted cream and jam seems to be a favorite among guests. My favorite? The fudge bar and their trifle. And yes, I realize those are both desserts but you would have to taste them to understand why they were my favorites.

I loved it all though, including the staff and the ambiance. I mean, where else do you get to leisurely sit around and sip tea with chandeliers above your head on a random weekday afternoon?

And I’m not the only one who loves the place. Jackie tells me with December being their busiest time of year, they see roughly 32,000 guests on average annually. That’s a lot of tea to serve!

With that many guests to welcome into their delightfully charming establishment, it would stand to reason they would have an ample gift shop – which they do.

I went home with one of their candles (made by Jackie’s mother, who has her own candle company), and the scent is out of this world. But it’s  not just candles that they sell. Obviously they sell their popular loose leaf tea, and in addition they also have Laura Ashley tableware, Burleigh cups and saucers, and items from designer Victoria Eggs. They also offera  variety of mugs and other gifts for the inclined shopper.

Want some of their loose leaf tea but you’re not in the St. Louis area? Not a problem. They ship it to all parts of the U.S. to make your tea time because of these fine people a possibility.

Don’t forget too, that tea time can be the perfect place to host an event – and The London Tea Room has you covered. Jackie tells me,

“We host baby and bridal showers, birthday parties, corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners and special events. Examples of some events we do are our Downton Abbey Afternoon teas (we are holding a murder mystery Downton event in March!), Afternoon tea with Father Christmas, A Peter Rabbit tea, A Scottish afternoon tea and more.” That sounds like too much fun, and you get to sip tea and nibble on their delictible finger food as well.

So, aside from all this, what is the number one most unique thing about The London Tea Room? Jackie says it’s that they are the only British Afternoon tea establishment in St. Louis. But I think it’s more than that. I think it’s the warm nature of the owner, the staff, and the overall feel of The London Tea Room that brings so many guests in to visit this charming place each year. And Jackie adds that,

“We bring the culture and feel of the U.K. to the St. Louis area.” She goes on to say that it’s not just a meal they’re providing the guest – it’s also an experience. And perhaps that is the key to their success.

So the next time you’re in St. Louis, Missouri, make sure to stop in for a spot of tea at The London Tea Room. Just make sure that when you do, you let them know that Lisa sent you!