Tea and scones have made their way across the taste buds of Terre Haute when the Bit of Britain Tea Room opened right off campus. Stepping inside, Terre Haute seems to fade away in the distance.
The smell is a complicated mixture of tea and dessert smells that give the air a pleasant and sweet scent. The elegantly-decorated china and the cloth-draped tables with glass tops and the heavenly aroma complete the effect.
The tea selection is extensive. It has everything from Apple Spice to Earl Grey to French Vanilla to Green to Freer's Hope and everything in between. Freer's Hope is a special blend of tea named after its inventor; 70 percent of its profits are donated to breast cancer research.
The flavored teas leave a pleasant taste in the mouth that lasts for hours. With so many selections, there's a tea for everybody. A Bit of Britain does not serve tea exclusively; it has a full menu of traditional British and Scottish cuisine. Potato leek and split pea soup, popular dishes in England, are on the menu.
Also making the menu are traditional entrees, beef hot pot and tomato pie, as well as dessert items like sticky pudding pie and peanut butter pie. Prices run from $1.95 for a pot of hot tea to $5.95 for an entrée.
Tea has long been valued for its medicinal benefits. According to the Harvard Medical School's Web site, consumers of tea enjoy reduced risk for heart disease, lower cholesterol and improved artery function.
One Chinese study reported regular drinkers experience a 46-65 percent reduced chance in developing hypertension.
On Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Bit of Britain offers a cream tea service and tea and scone socials. Formal teas, group parties and dinners are available upon reservation."Tea is an experience," said Kathy Gambill, owner of the Tea Room.
The Bit of Britain follows the English tradition that tea is more than just a drink. It's a chance to relax from a busy day, a chance to visit with friends and a chance to enjoy a good cup of tea.
The Bit of Britain Tea Room is located about two blocks south of campus, on Sixth street, in between Cherry Street and Wabash Avenue.
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