• The Tradition of High Tea goes back many many years.

The first shipment of Indian tea reached London in 1838.

Prior to the introduction of tea into Britain, people had just two main meals each day, breakfast and dinner.

During the middle of the 18th century, dinner for the upper and middle classes moved from noon to one served at a more "fashionable" time in the evening.

Because the noon meal had become non-existent, the Duchess of Bedford (that's her on the left) suffered from what she described to others as "a sinking feeling" at about four o'clock in the afternoon.

Her simple solution was a pot of tea and some light snacks, usually breadstuffs. It was a very novel idea, so different in fact that the Duchess enjoyed it alone, and 'secretly' at first, in her private sitting room at Belvoir Castle

Then one day a friend called on the Duchess while she was 'taking tea'. The Duchess invited her to share it.

More and more people started doing the same thing as the Duchess' simple idea grew in popularity. It became increasingly respectable, moving out of the boudoirs and into the drawing rooms. It was not long before all of fashionable English society was enjoying tea and sandwiches in the middle of the afternoon.

• We salute Anna, the Duchess of Bedford and recognise her as being the inventor of "teatime". Thanks to her, high tea became an English tradition. One which the Tea Cozy Cottage is proud to extend to you.

• We now sell Tea Cozy Cottage Gift Certificates.

Buy some
• for loved ones
• for friends & relatives
• to say "thank you"
• "just because"

• Each certificate is valid for one High Tea sitting at Tea Cozy Cottage and cost $26.01 each (which includes tax and gratuity) A child's certificare costs $20.09

• To buy our gift certificates, please contact the booking hotline at 513 532 8299. You can pay by credit card, check or cash.

Find out what customers are saying about the Tea Cozy Cottage at TeaMap, an online directory of the finest tearooms across America.

Here's a sample TeaMap review:-

"I love Michelle's Tea Cozy. I've already been twice this year and have another visit booked for June. Michelle is so friendly and is so enthusiastic about tea that I can't help feeling welcomed. She knows my favorite tea and makes sure to have it in stock so I can buy it when I visit. She also went out of her way to help me plan a tea party for my bridesmaids last summer. She gave me advise on where to purchase a tea set for someone on a budget and then helped me select teas to give as gifts to my friends. She also went out of her way to bake me a tray of her very WONDERFUL raspberry scones. I just feel like going to the Tea Cozy means getting the royal treatment. :-)
"
- Jes 04/08/09

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