Tea Blog

When visiting a new place, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by everything there is to see and do. Rushing from one attraction to the next without pause can quickly become exhausting.

My solution is simple: I break up my itinerary with a restorative cup of tea.

This approach works especially well in the UK, where tea rooms are abundant. In the U.S., finding a good tea stop often requires more planning—or settling for something less memorable. But in England, tea breaks seem to find you.

On a recent visit to Durham, this strategy proved particularly effective.

A Welcome Discovery

As often happens when I travel, I spent much of my time on foot—and during a rather chilly season at that. Naturally, regular tea stops became essential.

Durham offers several inviting options, but one stood out above the rest: Vennels Café.

Tucked into a 16th-century courtyard and accessed through a narrow alleyway, the café feels like a hidden gem. Its name reflects that setting—“vennel” being a word for a small passage between buildings.

Tea (and Cake!)

Vennels Café is well known for its cakes—which I can confirm are excellent. They also serve breakfast and lunch, but as always, my focus was on the tea.

The menu includes both loose-leaf and bagged teas, so I took a moment to ask which were which before ordering.

After narrowing down my options, I chose a tea that rarely disappoints:
Lapsang Souchong.

As expected, it delivered a rich, smoky flavor with a satisfying body. A splash of milk softened the edges and made it especially comforting—perfect for warming up after a long, brisk walk.

(And yes… the slice of cake made it even better.)

The Teapot Detail

One aspect of the experience stood out in particular: the teapot.

My tea was served in a beautiful vintage china teapot—something I noticed wasn’t the case with many of the other orders around me, which often arrived in standard metal pots.

While those are perfectly functional, the charm of a china teapot added an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience.

I couldn’t help but feel I got the better deal.

Tea as a Travel Companion

While I visited several tea spots in Durham, Vennels Café remained the most memorable.

The town’s hilly layout makes walking a bit of a workout, and these tea breaks offered a welcome physical pause. But more importantly, they provided a mental reset.

Travel can be overstimulating—with new sights, sounds, and experiences constantly competing for attention.

Taking time for tea helps restore balance, making it easier to truly enjoy the journey.

The benefits of tea never cease to amaze me.

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