Next to grab one’s attention would be the products displayed in pleasing configurations throughout the shop—a perfect opportunity to pick up a unique gift for your fellow tea lover. Items include biscuits from Buckingham Palace’s own gift shop, clotted cream, china and ceramic pieces from local artisans, tea accessories, scone mixes to try at home, tea towels commemorating the reign of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and much more.
Celebrating the Queen’s life and legacy is pivotal to this shop, having been selected as one of three Platinum Jubilee beacon locations in Canada in 2022. The propane-fueled beacon was lit outside the store to celebrate the Jubilee, and for a final time, sadly, on the evening of Her Majesty’s death.
The décor of the two-room shop is modern elegance meets rustic. Crisp white table linens are dotted with dramatic black napkins and ornate silver tea strainers, ready to catch every precious crumb and tea leaf once your treats and tea arrive. The sleek black chairs make the white-topped tables pop. The arrangement of the tables within the space offers a quiet buffer to allow for intimate conversations with your companions. Gentle music serves as an unobtrusive backdrop, triggering relaxation on a subliminal level. Soothing sounds, delicious tea, sweet and savory treats, and a pleasing décor are the perfect combination to soothe the soul. The service is prompt, friendly, accommodating, and informative. The owners are tea purists—if your preference is coffee, consider opening your soul to a tea experience, for no coffee is served here.
Special seasonal tea menus lead you by the hand, and heart, into each celebratory occasion. Sweet Mother’s Day teas are their signature event. Bridal teas are plentiful come spring and summer. Festive Christmas teas get one in the holiday mood. For those with a sweet tooth, the Sweetheart Tea is a pleasure. And for the younger customers just getting started on their tea journey, Tea At The White House offers “Prince and Princess” tea menus.
Afternoon tea comes with a beautiful arrangement of buttery scones with clotted cream (at Christmas, infused with brandy, if desired) and house-made jams and jellies (25 choices including Haskap, Saskatoon Berry, and Masala Chai Tea Jelly), plus dainty finger sandwiches, such as open-face salmon mousse and cucumber with cream cheese, and a tier of sweets—fresh berries and the most perfectly curated treats, such as miniature seasonal cheesecakes. All treats are made lovingly by Connor every day. Andrew, on the other hand, works in the background, making frequent trips to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa to work with their import partners for ongoing and consistent supplies of that staple of English teas: clotted cream. More than 2,000 small businesses in Canada rely on this delicious import from the United Kingdom, and Andrew plays a pivotal role in ensuring this happens.
Patrons from the Greater Toronto area can find this jewel at 35 Main Street North, Waterdown, Canada. The tearoom at Tea At The White House is open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last seating at 3:00 p.m.). The retail store is open Wednesday to Sunday during the same hours. Not in the area? Tea At The White House also has an online store, where you can shop all of their teas, treats, gifts, and teaware.
Annie Stanziani is a recently retired nurse with a passion for all things tea related. She lives in Ontario, Canada, where she collects and sells china pieces from around the world in her shop at prettypinkaddiction.ca.
