Top tea spots to explore from Fort Collins to Manitou Springs

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.

Fort Collins

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.

Boulder

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.