Walking down a red carpet can make even the most mundane activity or place feel special. Imagine my surprise when some friends and I went for afternoon tea in Clearwater and were greeted by a red carpet in the parking lot leading up to a storefront bedecked with flowers. Joseph’s Tea made a delightful first impression, which set the tone for the rest of our visit.
My friend, Denise, had made reservations for five of us for an Afternoon Tea Experience on a Sunday afternoon. Denise and I drove together, and Sherry, Christina and Doreen met us at the tea shop. While we waited for our table, we perused the variety of tea-related goods for sale, which included teapots, cups and fascinators, which are ornamental headpieces that typically feature large decorative designs attached to a band or clip. Denise, Sherry and I were already wearing fascinators that we had purchased online in advance, but it was nice to confirm that we had opted for appropriate attire.
After just a few moments, a staff member sat us at a lovely table that was set with white china with gold detailing, gold utensils and matching teacups. Our server handed us menus and asked us to select our tea and sandwiches. The Afternoon Tea Experience that we had reserved included a pot of tea; a small salad; one-and-a-half tea sandwiches; scones and tea biscuits served with Devonshire cream and jam; and dessert for $42 per person (plus tax and gratuity).
The tea menu was vast and offered more than 75 different types of tea split into four different categories: black (higher caffeine); green (medium caffeine); white (light caffeine); and herbal (caffeine-free). We agreed to select teas from various categories and share. I opted for the Raspberry Earl Grey De La Crème, while Denise chose the White Strawberry Basil.
The sandwich menu included both traditional and less-traditional options. There was chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad, ham salad, veggies with hummus, cucumber and cream cheese, Joseph’s nut butter, and vegan chick’n salad. I ordered chicken salad on a croissant and egg salad on white bread.
Shortly after we ordered, our server brought our teas to our table. Each tea was served steaming hot in patterned teapots, and sugar and half-and-half were provided at our request. The teas tasted as delicious as they smelled, and while I enjoyed my first cup with cream and sugar, Denise felt that hers was perfect without any sweetener.
Our first food course was Joseph’s Berry Delight Salad, which was a plate of assorted greens with strawberries, blueberries, candied walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. It was tasty, and a nice accompaniment to our teas.
Our server then presented us with three-tiered trays featuring our pre-ordered sandwiches on the bottom tier; blueberry scones and a tea biscuit with Devonshire cream and jam in the middle tier; and assorted macarons, tea cakes and chocolate truffles on the top tier.
Everything was fabulous! Who doesn’t love tiny sandwiches? I am not typically a huge fan of scones, but these were the perfect texture, and not as dry and crumbly as some that I’ve had. Sherry, who required gluten-free accommodations, seemed pleased with her selections as well. She received her own tray, while the rest of us shared a tray with the person sitting across us. Gluten-free and/or vegan food costs an additional $4 per person.
The portions were quite substantial, and we all needed to-go boxes. We told our server that we were celebrating Christina’s birthday, and she brought out a cupcake with a candle for the birthday girl.
Our server checked on us regularly, as did co-owner Shannon Joseph. She and her husband, Guerby, opened Joseph’s Tea Room and Shop in September 2021, in a small space that held only 25 guests. The next year, they expanded the existing tea room and can now host up to 80 people in their eclectic dining room.
Decorated mostly in various shades of Tiffany blue, the dining room also sports a red velvet throne at the end of another red carpet with a neon “Joseph’s Tea” sign illuminated above it. When we’d finished eating, we took time to explore the dining room and had a staff member take pictures of us surrounding Christina, who perched atop the throne.
For those feeling more indulgent, Joseph’s Tea also offers a Deluxe Afternoon Tea Experience for $54 per person. Each guest receives a glass of champagne and two chocolate-covered strawberries in addition to all of the tea and food that we enjoyed.
The tea room is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and reservations are required. You can order a la carte from their menu and don’t need to reserve a tea experience, although I highly recommend it.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- Visit josephstea.com or call 352-679-1339 for more information or to make a reservation.
- Children under five are not welcome unless you book a private event.
- The Josephs launched Joseph’s Tea as an online tea shop in the summer of 2020. You can purchase their teas (either loose or in bags) onsite or online.