Sloane Heffernan: Tea for two

My daughter Quinn and I just finished watching the Netflix series “Anne with an E." It’s a story highlighting the adventures of an orphaned girl living in the 19th century. While watching the story, we both marveled that many of life’s ups and downs during that time period were often solved or celebrated over a cup of tea.

When we arrived for tea service at the charming cafe in downtown Wake Forest we were greeted and led to a window table set with fine china that adorned with delicate pink flowers. Suddenly, I was glad that we dressed up for this special occasion.

To begin, we were offered a pot of premium tea. And if the traditional offering is not your “cup of tea” (pun intended), you can also get a pot of hot chocolate, specialty coffee, lemonade or a mimosa.

I am not a tea drinker, but Quinn suggested that we give it a try. She elected the Peach Apricot tea. We were told that it is a crowd favorite. I tried the Strawberry, Pineapple Green Tea. After a little taste test, we both settled on the Peach Apricot tea with plenty of sugar and a drizzle of honey.

Next, our salads arrived. We enjoyed the green salad and a few giggles, as we practiced holding our pinky fingers high while sipping our yummy tea.

We went from giggles to oohs and aahs when the towering, three-tier tray arrived at our table with an incredible array of savory and sweet treats.

The bottom layer featured mini-sandwiches including a scrumptious homemade chicken salad on a croissant and a traditional cucumber and cream cheese sandwich.

The second tier featured the most amazing homemade scones that I have ever tasted. They were served with a traditional Devonshire Cream and jelly. YUM!

The top-tier was filled with a glorious selection of cakes, pastries and truffles that were just as beautiful as they were delicious.

The owner later told us that all of the baked goods are handmade locally by Polka Dot Treat Shop which is one of the reason why a reservation for tea service is required.

As scrumptious as the food was, the time that we shared was even more decadent.

At 12 years old, Quinn still drinks up quality mother/daughter time — and I soak it up too. With school, work and extra-curricular activities, there isn’t a lot of down-time in the 21st century.

It’s a much different world than what we witnessed in the series “Anne with an E”. In the 19th century, the days were not chock-full of activities. They didn’t have electronics, organized sports — or even cars. They seemed to enjoy the simple things in life. The things that matter most, like each other — and perhaps a good cup of tea.

If you are looking for tea service in your area, here are a some other recommended spots in the Triangle:

A conversation with the owner of Sugar Magnolia Cafe, Amy Stephens: