As soon as we sit down, a tray of small jars containing black, green, fruit blends and herbal loose-leaf tea arrives for us to sniff and select. We’ve barely gotten over our first impressions of the wonderfully kept old Queenslander when our senses are overwhelmed, intrigued and duly impressed by the choice of tea. There’s plenty of room with tables out the back, on the front verandah and scattered in the garden, and by the sounds of things it can and does, get mighty busy. It’s easy to understand why as it’s the perfect setting for tea and scones, and I almost feel I could be in exotic colonial Africa or Asia. The little touches; the dainty teacups and teapots, and my friend comments on the use of wine glasses for water, makes for a lovely experience. Choose from either the traditional plain scones, date served with butter, or ginger scones served with ginger conserve. I try both the plain and ginger, and if you’re a ginger fan, you’ll like them. The scones taste fresh and buttery but are quite small – perfect for a High Tea, but not substantial enough for a Devonshire Tea, and, both my friend and I agree, could be better. The raspberry jam is thick and rich and the freshly whipped cream has been cooled in the fridge so it far from slides off your knife – nice! Opening hours are limited to Friday from 11am to 2.30pm, and Saturday/Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream: 

Tea: A vast selection of loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized pot.

Price: $$$

Overall: An impressive setting reminiscent of historic times.

Location: 7 Johns Rd/ Springbrook Rd, Mudgeeraba QLD 4213 Ph: 07 5525 3053
www.theoldteahousegallery.com
Reviewed in November, 2013

The Tallebudgera Valley is the perfect backdrop for tea and scones, and what better place to have them then Teavine House. Teavine House is airy and open, the serene setting is exactly what you would expect somewhere semi tropical like the Gold Coast. There’s a small verandah along the front, otherwise indoor is perfectly comfortable; high ceilings, decor in cool whites and timber floors – you can see why it’s a favourite wedding venue. The intimate marquee out on the back lawn is lovely, and a visit to the bathroom is an interesting trip in itself. Shoppers will enjoy the on site boutique and tea lovers the choice of teas. I potter around the restaurant looking in glass cabinets and admire the myriad cups and saucers, loving the blue polka dot ensemble that lands at my place on the table. Initially, my friend and I share a Devonshire Tea, but it’s so good that we order another. A perfect size for that ‘in-between’ snack, the scones are soft and fluffy and slightly crispy on the outside. The rich raspberry jam and freshly whipped thick cream are the perfect accompaniment.

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream: 

Tea: A large selection of loose-leaf teas served in a cute teapot.

Price: $$

Overall: It should be called ‘Divine House’. 

Location: 268 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Tallebudgera QLD 4228 Ph: 07 5533 9889
www.teavinehouse.com.au
Reviewed in November, 2013

You wouldn’t think to find a tea room in the middle of a popular beachside shopping mall on the Gold Coast. CreativiTea is a combination lunch cafe/tea room that specialises in High Teas, Devonshire Teas and any sweet something you may be hankering for. The extensive tea menu is bound to have something you haven’t tried, with the homeware shop on the premises stocking many of the teas. We’re lucky to have a table with a view, although it only overlooks a cafe and kiddies playground on the mall, it’s a view nonetheless. The crockery isn’t the dainty kind you’d expect in a tea room, but the fauna and flora prints and cute teapot definitely add the feminine touches. The scones are fluffy but slightly dry, if that’s possible, the Grainge jam tasty and the cream thick. Overall, my tasting companion and I decide, for the price, it could be better. If you’re in the market for a new teapot or cups and saucers, you’ll be happy with the range.

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream: 

Tea: A vast selection of all types of loose-leaf tea served in a good-sized pot.

Price: $$$

Overall: If you need tea and tea pots, this is the place.

Location: Level 1, The Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach QLD 4218 Ph: 07 5527 6676 www.creativitea.com.au
Reviewed in November, 2013

Drive only 30 minutes west of Brisbane’s CBD and you feel as though you’re a world away from city life. The gateway to the beautiful Brisbane hinterland, Samford still has a village vibe. The Happy Berry House Cafe is set a little way back from the road and is dominated by umbrellas in the front garden, creating a canopy of shade for outdoor diners. I’m not quite sure why the house is a ‘happy berry’ as you won’t find any berries for sale or specialised jam, if that’s what you’re after. Plain and date scones are on offer this day, and you can buy as many or as few as you like. I opt for the date scone – it’s ok, acceptable, but nothing more. My friend has a plain scone and we agree that it is a slightly better choice. The jam looks good, but once again is average in flavour and quality. The cream is way too light and airy.

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream: 

Tea: A selection of T2 loose-leaf teas.

Price: $$

Overall: A pleasant cafe in a lovely village.

Location: 16 Main St, Samford QLD 4520 Ph: 07 3289 2742 www.happyberryhouse.com
Reviewed in November, 2013

Upon entering, The Willows Tea Room & Cafe looks like its name suggests – a tearoom! It’s quaint, feminine and what you expect a tearoom to look like. There’s a semi enclosed courtyard alongside and a cosy room out the back that’s designated especially for the prebooked High Teas. We have the attentive and friendly service all to ourselves, and relish it. After spending too much time pondering the extensive tea menu, the three of us decide on my all-time favourite brew, lime and coconut sencha. The teacups and teapots arrive to gasps of ‘oohs and ahs’ as we admire their prettiness. The scones, jam and cream appear on two-tiered serving plates, which impresses its guests again. The scones are lovely, soft and creamy, and we’re told the divine strawberry jam is made by the owners’ brother who is a chef. The only downfall is the whipped cream, which is a bit too light.

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream: 

Tea: Oodles of loose-leaf teas served in pretty teapots.

Price: $$

Overall: A pretty tearoom for those who love their teas.

Location: 1410 Logan Rd, Mt. Gravatt QLD 4122 Ph: 0435 845 141 www.willowtearoom.com.au
Reviewed in November, 2013

Work up an appetite perusing Vintage Aura’s three rooms that are chock-a-block with giftwares. The best thing about the gift shop is the simple but quaint tea room that forms part of the business and does a great Devonshire Tea. The scones are baked daily and served with lashings of strawberry jam and double thick cream, and there’s a huge blackboard listing the teas available. I love the teaspoons, which have little teapots on the ends, and the cute tea infuser that dangle over the edge of the teapot. The crockery is a huge hit with my buddies.

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream: 

Tea: Good selection of loose-leaf teas served in gorgeous pots. Love the tea infuser.

Price: $$

Overall: A true blue tearoom feel.

Location: 815 Logan Rd(Cnr Birdwood Rd),Holland Park QLD 4121 Ph: 07 3847 2234
www.vintageaura.net
Reviewed in November, 2013

The Rendezvous Tea Rooms in Brisbane’s Woolloongabba is tucked away, and unless you stumble in to the sign on the footpath or are looking for it specifically, you could easily miss it. A small and cosy tea room offering ‘tea leaf reading’ by a daily tea-cup reader for $10, the place is reminiscent of 1940s inner city Brisbane when some tea rooms offered illegal fortune-telling. Today, the police no longer raid tea rooms as the laws changed in the late 1990s, so your future reading is safe. The menu suggests Bushells Billy Tea for the tea of choice for a reading – perhaps the message is conveyed clearer through this Aussie brew? However, the reader is happy enough to use my friend’s green tea leaves from the tea bag. It’s a fun ‘add-on’ to a tea gathering, and every one who has a reading goes in to a monthly draw for a high tea for two. Although we are initially excited at having the tea room to ourselves and are impressed with the impeccable and friendly service and dainty tea cups, the whole shebang; scones, jam, cream and tea, ends up being rather average. There’s nothing remarkable about the small scones nor the plum jam and the sweet cream is very light. I must say, the waitress did ask us a couple of times whether we’d like her to whip up another batch of cream, but she shouldn’t really have to offer, should she?

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream: 

Tea: Some varieties of black loose-leaf teas and a few choices of green/herbal tea bags.

Price: $$

Overall: Tucked away bolt hole for scone fans.

Location: 787 Stanley St (ground floor), Woolloongabba QLD 4102 Ph: 07 3393 1101
www.therendezvoustearoom.com.au
Reviewed in November, 2013