I myself drink tea all day long, preferably in the sun on my balcony with a tasty snack. A mini high tea, in other words. An originally English phenomenon. Even nicer is to sit in a tea garden. These are my four favourite tea gardens in the Netherlands and are perfect for a nice high tea.
History of high tea
When I hear the word teatime, I immediately think of England. Recently, however, an English friend told me that afternoon tea is actually just dinner. I was amazed. So have I been misinterpreting high tea all along?
Let's start with the difference between afternoon tea and high tea. The phenomenon of afternoon tea emerged in the 1940s and it encompasses more than just sipping a cup of tea. Afternoon tea refers to a light meal. Duchess Anna Maria of Bedford is often seen as the creator of this afternoon snack. At the time, it was customary to eat late and not consume afternoon food, which could well cause cravings for the duchess. The afternoon tea - served between half past two and five - changed this. In time, the duchess's snack became a cosy get-together with friends in her magnificent garden.
This phenomenon did not just stay with England's upper class. Workers too had their tea dinners, but they gave it the name high tea. In this class, the tea and food was not consumed as a snack, but rather as a meal after a hard day's work. The high tea therefore referred to the high table at which the workers ate.
Tea gardens in the Netherlands
Today, high tea is not only an English phenomenon, in the Netherlands too we have become fans of this form of snacking. Sharing a snack with your mother or your best friend, taking the time for a good conversation, enjoying it together with a warm cup of tea - this is what makes high tea so special. And following the English example, of course, you experience the best high tea, or rather afternoon tea, in a tea garden.
The Netherlands has some wonderful tea gardens. Surrounded by nature, delicately scented flowers and (vegan) delicacies, tea comes into its own here. These are my four favourite tea gardens in our country. Also great to combine with a day or weekend break in the Netherlands.
1. Millinger tea garden - Klaverland 9, Millingen aan de Rijn
My all-time favourite tea garden, to keep speaking in English terms, is the Millinger tea garden: a little paradise in the polder near Nijmegen. This tea garden is literally hidden in the greenery of the Millingerwaard nature reserve. You can't just get there by car either. From the little church in Kekerdom, it is a two-kilometre walk through the Millingerwaard, before you see the tea garden looming somewhere hidden among the oaks.
The garden is decorated with inspiration from the Middle East: fine sitting corners surrounded by greenery. The sea blue tiling gives the garden a distinctive look that takes me back to my trip through Morocco.
Apart from the beautiful garden, this tea garden is my favourite because they also have vegetarian and vegan high tea options. Right down to English scones. Surrounded by fresh seasonal fruit and flowers from the garden, it's a feast on your plate.
2. Teahouse at Kees&Sien - Dijkstraat 115, Veenendaal
Where Sien used to do the laundry and Kees brought in the hay, you and I can now enjoy fresh coffee, various teas and homemade apple pie. At teahouse At Kees&Sien, they cook and bake with fresh produce from their farm. And the nice thing is that you can also experience that farm. It is located next to the teahouse and you can pick your own flowers and vegetables from the vegetable garden. And if, like me, you are a real tea lover: Kees and Sien serve unlimited tea at their tea moments!
3. Mrs Cha's Tea Room - Noordervaart 30B, Stompetoren
Linda is tea sommelier and the face behind Mevrouw Cha. She knows all about the tea making process and how the tea leaves work. During a tasting, she tells you the personal stories of the people who made this cup of tea possible for you. Indeed, with her backpack on, Linda has often been off the beaten track, visiting the tea plantation owners and tea pickers.
In Stompetoren, near Alkmaar, you will find Mrs Cha's tea room. Here you can join a long table for a tea tasting (possibly with a high tea lunch). Enjoy your tea and the stories!
4. Theetuin De Wilde Framboos - Nuijeneind 5, Bakel
Under the fruit trees and among the berry bushes, De Wilde Framboos teahouse is a great place to relax. Chickens roam freely through the garden and the cat occasionally comes to say hello. A horse grazes in the meadow and among the sea of flowers a bee hums from flower to flower.
At De Wilde Framboos, they bake fresh cakes daily with ingredients from their own garden or from the region. They also transform local ingredients into delicious treats for their high teas and afternoon teas. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let them know when booking.
These were my four favourite tea gardens in the Netherlands. Perfect places to enjoy a high tea or afternoon tea. Let us know on Instagram with #heyhoneyguide or via @honeyguide.nl/en where you prefer to drink tea?
Love,
Yalou