If you’re looking for an escape from the holiday hustle and frigid temperatures, or just want to catch up with a friend over a spot of tea, Miss Jenny’s Tea House might make you feel like you've stepped back in time.
The tea shop opened this past summer at the corner of Waterloo and Birmingham and has already earned itself a handful of steadfast, tea-loving regulars who appreciate owner Jennifer McPhail’s modern take on afternoon tea and its quiet atmosphere.
Dotted with lace-covered tablecloths and mismatched chairs, a wicker nook with bookcases, and a long row of neatly-labelled canisters housing loose-leaf tea varietals, the old-timey, peaceful mood is enhanced by the café’s lack of WiFi and blaring music.
“If you’re a tea lover, you’re going to love it here,” McPhail says. “It’s a quiet environment where you can come with a friend and have a conversation. Or if you want to come and have a cuppa tea and read a book, or sit by the window and watch the world go by, you can do that as well. No one feels rushed in here. I’ve had a lot of customer’s comment on how appreciated that is. In such a busy world, it’s nice to have a place where you can come in and just enjoy the quiet.”
Opening a tea shop was a natural move for McPhail, a lifelong tea drinker, baker and self-proclaimed “tea-totaller” who left a nine-year career in property management to follow a dream. She says that once her mind was set, the process happened quickly as opportunities opened and fell easily into place.
She credits her two sons, Calvin, 16, who helps out each Saturday, and Adam, 14, with their help and support to get it off the ground.
“It’s a family business,” she says. “I feel like it because that’s how I feel about the people I work with.” Besides her son, she has three other employees.
McPhail offers a traditional afternoon tea service by reservation that includes a three-tiered tray of tea sandwiches (crusts cut off), scones and other treats, along with a fat-bellied pot of loose-leaf tea ($24).
Her “modern” take is hugely popular – a pared-down version that includes less food, served in courses, no reservation required ($12). Customers are also welcome to come in for tea and a treat anytime.
All baking is done in-house daily by McPhail and the sweet scent of baking wafts through the shop. Scones are the biggest hit but there’s a wide selection of other treats to choose from.
On a regular day, McPhail, who drinks tea hot or cold, prefers using her chipped, gargantuan mug, almost like a small pot of its own, even though the shop’s stand-out feature is the display cabinet that holds over 60 tea cups that customers choose to drink their tea from. It’s often a nostalgic, thoughtful process that she says her customers enjoy as there’s typically at least one cup that will bring back memories for them.
“Tea is special and comforting for people,” McPhail says. “Being able to choose your own tea cup makes the experience that much more special and fun. It allows people to be more interactive, participate and enjoy the environment that much more too.
“I’ve been to other tea places and you never get to choose your cup. That’s what I love about tea houses – every one is different and unique.
“I want people to feel like they’re sitting in my kitchen when they come,” she continues, “Not terribly formal, a little more casual, so that you can walk in with jeans and feel comfortable. You don’t need to come dressed up. But if you want, you can do that too.”
Miss Jenny’s Tea House is located at 88 Waterloo Ave., Guelph. Visit the website for more information and hours: www.missjennysteahouse.ca.
