Chapters & Leaves Tea Room

Chapters & Leaves Tea Room

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Posted 2019-11-09 by Jade Jacksonfollow


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If Agony of the leaves or Bakey and Peak, sound like the names of indie rock bands then you need to visit Chapters and Leaves; the newly opened tea room and bookshop in the Blue Mountains.

As a tea lover, I've been patiently waiting for this place to open, yet still, I was overwhelmed by the choice of loose-leaf tea.

There's over thirty varieties you can order ($5 for a pot of tea) sourced both locally and from around the world. These include black teas (Balmoral, Scottish and Bushfire Breakfast), Darjeeling Vintage Himalaya, China Golden Yunnan, Earl Grey Blue Flower, Red South African Rooibos, as well as green, fruit and herbal blends.



With over one hundred different teas to purchase (and take home), make sure you allow sufficient time to peruse them all.

You'll find organic, Australian grown tea, alongside regular English Breakfast Tea. There's blends you've probably never heard of such as Australian Wattle (wattle seed and cinnamon) and Australian Bush Blush Tea (lemon myrtle, hibiscus and quandong).

I also learnt tea terminology such as the agony of the leaves is 'the unfolding of tea leaves in hot water.' Bakey is 'an over-fired tea' whilst Peak refers to 'the moment the liquor enters your mouth or the high point of a cupping experience.'*

*source: Chapters and Leaves Tea Guide



The owners hope to expand their offering to more than one hundred and fifty different teas, ensuring a single visit will not suffice.

Tourists will fawn over the bush teas, Australian designed travel mugs and Blue Mountains cake plates, whilst coffee lovers aren't ignored either with beans, grinds and plungers on offer. They also serve coffee (but surely even a devout coffee drinker would be curious by the range of tea on offer).



It's impossible to list everything (which is why a visit is the only way to experience it) but you can find a selection of products on their website . Expect to find common teas such as Peppermint alongside unique and hard to find China White Tea.



I tried the Strawberry Cream tea, which was refreshing and delicately nectarous. Usually, I prefer my fruit teas cold and I was surprised that it was actually sweeter, hot. Accompanied by a date scone, served with fresh whipped cream and raspberry jam was the perfect side treat.



There are also freshly baked cakes ($5, which vary daily), cookies ($4) and banana bread. However for $9 for a scone and a pot of tea it makes for an affordable treat that looks decadent. If there's two of you, add on a second scone for $3 more.



As soon as you walk in, acoustic music drowns out the traffic from the highway. A sample jug of cold tea welcomes you and even if you're a tea novice, you can pick up a free handy guide on the front bench with terminology and types so you'll be an expert by the time you leave.



If you're after a gift, a wall of beautiful ceramic teapots (including an Alice in Wonderland design) and teacups; along with gorgeous books (some by local authors) provides easy gifts whilst shopping locally. They also issue gift vouchers which I imagine will be popular come Mother's Day.

Kids will love the Chocolate Tea (and as a bonus, it's sugar-free) and will be occupied with the colour-in sheets and pencils. Though they may also pester you for one of the curated kids' books for sale, conveniently displayed at knee height.



With comfy lounge chairs and plenty of table seating, Chapters and Leaves is the cool respite the Blue Mountains has been missing. Something tea lovers will (quietly) rejoice.

Chapters and Leaves is open:
Tuesday to Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

You can walk there from Faulconbridge train station and there is free on-street parking out the front. With the new M4 tunnel, you can drive from Sydney to Faulconbridge in an hour, making the Blue Mountains an easy escape from the bustle of Sydney.

Follow Chapters and Leaves on instagram and Facebook .

You can find them at:
Shop 3,
7-9 St Georges Crescent
Faulconbridge, NSW
P: 0411 385 117



#afternoon_tea
#blue_mountains
#cafes
#child_friendly
#coffee
#escape_the_city
#nsw
#tea
%wnsydney
99030 - 2023-06-12 08:15:17

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