Picture this: Daylight is petering out behind the snow-capped Rockies, and it's getting cold -- really cold. You're comfortable, though, sipping loose-leaf tea from a pot, nibbling on delicate, scratch-made pastries.
Afternoon tea is a delightful ritual that Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford -- one of Queen Victoria's besties -- improvised in England in the 1840s.
According to the tale, the Duchess complained of a sinking feeling in her stomach between her midday meal and late-night dinner. She didn't need much in the interim: Tea would do, with some bread and butter, of course, and oh, maybe a slice of cake, too.
Other socialites followed suit, and before long, Anna Maria Russell's solving hunger pains became a beloved international tradition.
Times have changed since the Victorian Era, yet the refined practice of taking tea might be more relevant than ever, given the increasing demands of modern life.
Here's your formal invitation to experience traditional afternoon tea along Colorado's Front Range.
But be warned: Once you start taking tea, you'll wonder why you haven't been doing it all along.
On select Sunday afternoons, starting at 2 p.m., head to Sunset Lounge for high tea. It is located on the luminous top floor of The Elizabeth Hotel, 111 Chestnut St., theelizabethcolorado.com, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Fort Collins.
In addition to a rotating, seasonal selection of sandwiches, scones, and desserts, tea enthusiasts also choose from
loose-leaf teas from a local supplier, Happy Lucky's Teahouse, 236 Walnut St. (If you drink tea regularly, check out Happy Lucky's Tea Lover's Club, which offers discounts to frequent in-person and online shoppers.)
If the Sunset Lounge's swanky rooftop digs and panoramic mountain views aren't fancy enough for you, maybe the live jazz from one of the hotel's house pianists will do the trick. Reservations are required for high tea, and guests must be at least 8 years old to participate.
Two blocks south of Pearl Street Mall, the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, 1770 13th St., boulderteahouse.com, is a popular destination for foodies, tea enthusiasts, and architectural buffs who delight in the opportunity to step into another world while ogling a dozen intricately carved cedar columns and the site's immaculate hand-painted ceiling.
You can read about this teahouse's incredible origin story while enjoying classic British afternoon tea service, available from 3 to 5 p.m. daily. The service includes cucumber sandwiches and delicate, house-made teacakes.
While the tea menu changes seasonally, the chef can always accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free requests. Afternoon tea includes a three-tiered tower of sweet and savory pastries, scones, and mini-sandwiches presented with, of course, a pot of premium tea.
This teahouse steeps everything: black, green, white, oolong, yerba matte, rooibos, and Pu'erh, along with a variety of herbal blends.
For adventurous patrons searching for a novel tea experience, Dim Sum Tea Time is held one weekend a month.
It features tea-infused dim sum delicacies and premium oolong selections. Reservations for afternoon tea are required at least 24 hours in advance; however, Dim Sum Tea Time routinely sells out, so book that experience up to six months before visiting.
Try not to grin as wide as the Cheshire Cat when you walk through the decorative front door at Alice and Rose, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., aliceandrose.com, to discover what owner and head chef Holley Ellis calls her "ode to Wonderland."
Friendly service, dainty tea towers, and Wonderland fine china are non-negotiables at tea time, which is offered Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (brunch tea) and 1 to 3 p.m. (afternoon tea).
Alice and Rose is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations are not required.
If you arrive with an appetite, Ellis's upscale, all-day brunch menu features a thoughtful collection of items -- BLTA on fresh-baked artisan bread, for example, and the veggie quiche tart.
For a proper tea time, order one of the Alice in Wonderland towers, brimming with your choice of traditional tea fare, brunch items, or -- new this year -- charcuterie. Charcuterie is a welcome twist for tea enthusiasts with savory palettes and gluten intolerance.
Guests can order a la carte and build their own whimsical experience.
If the clean Nordic aesthetic inside Süti & Co., 2031 16th St., sutiandco.com, doesn't make you swoon, well, there's always the signature shortbread pastries with their traditional -- and top-secret -- recipes and charming nomenclature.
Owner and head chef Andrea Uzarowski grew up in Copenhagen before training in Michelin-starred kitchens. In addition to developing the café's menu, Uzarowski also curates the home goods, lining sleek shelves that lead to a no-frills coffee and tea bar with a charismatic selection of cakes and teacakes.
Signature baked goods are prepared on-site daily, using fresh and seasonal ingredients, Danish butter, and locally milled flour. Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options are always available for guests with dietary restrictions.
It sounds delightful, but can you call it tea time without the table service and towers?
At Süti & Co., build your own experience whenever the mood strikes: Simply order a variety of bite-sized treats and a pot of organic PLŪKT brand loose-leaf tea.
Then, sneak off to one of the many cozy nooks. Süti & Co. is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays.
For a totally unpretentious tea time, you might want to try The Huckleberry, 700 Main St., thehuckleberry.com. This popular weekend brunch spot gives off charming, small-town energy.
Don't let the restaurant's down-home aesthetic fool you, though: The site's wooden tables are dressed with linens for traditional afternoon tea, served daily at 2 p.m.
Tiered towers brim with the mainstays: scrumptious pastries and savory sandwiches -- all baked fresh the day you arrive and presented with a pot of the same tea you'll get at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. (Lenny and Sara Martinelli run both restaurants under their local restaurant group, Three Leaf Concepts).
After Thanksgiving through mid-January (or so), The Huckleberry will serve a special Holiday Afternoon Tea with seasonal towers and gift bags.
Reservations for afternoon tea -- holiday and otherwise -- are required at least 24 hours in advance. Parties of all sizes are welcome.
New this year, Babe's Tea Room, 1027 Washington Ave., babestearoom.com, is precisely what Golden needed.
To reach Babe's, walk toward Clear Creek and look for the massive flowers ballooning out of two entrances.
In addition to a yummy, all-day brunch menu, this creek-side lounge offers a standout anytime tea service. Unlimited pots of loose-leaf tea are served alongside a prix fixe menu with savory sandwiches, scones, homemade petit fours, and a French macaron -- plus a trio of jam, lemon curd, and Devonshire cream.
If the weather cooperates, request a table on the back patio; otherwise, enjoy the dainty décor, well-curated artwork, and decidedly feminine digs indoors.
Reservations are recommended but not required. Babe's flagship location in Denver, 2401 15th St., offers a more intimate tea time experience with a smaller food menu.
While this cherished Colorado tradition is a little pricey, the experience lives up to the hype. So if the winter doldrums strike, don your Sunday best and spend a few hours really indulging.
Take tea Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the hotel's historic Atrium Lobby. In this lovely, airy space, you'll be treated to pots of organic tea with Devonshire cream exported from England.
Other menu items haven't traveled quite so far to reach your table. The honey, for example, comes from an on-site rooftop bee colony. (How's that for local flavor?)
Tea comes with everything you expect: scones, finger sandwiches, house-made pastries, and a truffle.
Live music accompanies afternoon tea, with various piano, harp, and cabaret-style acoustics available. Walk-ins are welcome if space permits, but it is best to book several weeks in advance -- at least. Holiday tea sells out.
For those wanting to step back in time, there's Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens, 2555 W. 37th Ave., lumberbaron.com.
The parlor room inside this Queen Ann Victorian mansion-initially home to a local lumber baron and his family -- is perfect for traditional English tea Wednesday through Sunday.
It features a variety of fancy finger sandwiches served with scones, crumpets, and cookies. Everything is baked fresh daily and presented on a collection of fine china.
A nod to its deep local roots, the inn sources tea from Denver-based Teakoe, a small-batch supplier headquartered in Longmont.
Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. The Lumber Baron Inn will accommodate dietary restrictions, but 48 hours of notice is needed. Parties of all sizes are welcome.
According to Glen Eyrie's website, no visit to Colorado Springs is complete without a stop at Glen Eyrie Castle, 3820 N. 30th St., gleneyrie.org.
And no visit to Glen Eyrie Castle is complete without Tea at the Castle, served Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Tea enthusiasts are seated at a gorgeously dressed table inside the magnificent, sunlit Castle Music Room, where the ladies congregate after their evening meal. They are then treated to a multi-course and rather hearty seasonal tea menu that includes soups, salads, sandwiches, canapés, and sweets -- along with piping hot tea.
It's not a requirement, but you might want to schedule a 90-minute tour before or after your tea service.
Reservations are required for both offerings, and guests can book experiences up to 90 days in advance.