TO ESCAPE THE dull and dreary, steal away to the White Branches tea room. Between the gorgeous setting, the delicious tea, and the curated three-tiered nibbles, this elevated experience will keep you coming back for more! Now taking up the entire second floor and tower of the historic Granary Building in Mount Vernon, White Branches is an events production company that has existed in various iterations since 2013. Owner Matthew White has boutique partnerships with circus and theater venues in Seattle, Chicago, Houston, and Vancouver. But now that they’ve opened up their own venue, White’s artistic visions have a place to grow into their own.
“I was sitting here trying to think, well, how can I bring my circus world into this tea shop,” says White. From there, White Branches has expanded into something all its own: part magical labyrinth, part events venue, and of course, part enchanting tea parlor.
Photograph by Cocoa Laney
When you ride the elevator to the second floor, right away you’re hit with the sensation that you’re in another world—a place crafted specifically to give you the joy of a fantastical adventure. After you pass through the steampunk sitting room and the glamorous Boutique, you will be shown to the Tea Room, a dining area that has been crafted into an “immersive storybook setting.”
With you and your party settled, you’ll embark on your classic tea service experience. The first step is, of course, to choose your pot of tea! White Branches offers various black, green, white, and herbal teas to select from, and are happy to help you select one based on what flavors you generally enjoy. Tea Room Lead Gwen Garcia always recommends their signature Creme de la Earl. In this creamy, mellow take on classic Earl Grey tea, the black tea is mixed with Madagascar vanilla and blue cornflower. The citrus notes just peek through in this fragrant, delicately floral blend.
This pot pairs well with the myriad of delicious treats you will receive with your tea service. Your three-tier presentation will include classic tea sandwiches at the bottom, made with delectable yet bold flavors like mango chutney and curried egg salad, smoked salmon cream cheese with lemon butter, and roast turkey with havarti and cranberry Dijon. The second tier holds homemade scones with flavors like peach and lemon zest and a small assortment of fresh seasonal fruit. And of course, the top tier is laden with an array of delicious sweets. Dainty petit-four cakes, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate truffles, and fanciful macarons will top off your tea service! White Branches is also happy to offer their tea services in vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free arrangements.
Photograph by Cocoa Laney
“That’s one of the things that we’re very proud of,” says White about their dedication to having an inclusive menu. White Branches even works with a nearby business, Shambala Ancient Grain Bakery & Bistro, to do everything they can to cater to dietary needs. In addition to the classic tea service experience, visitors can also order from the a la carte menu! Scones, tea sandwiches, truffles, and shortbread cookies are available, as well as tasty sparkling wine spritzers and peach or raspberry bellinis if you’d like something just a mite stronger than tea.
This wonderful tea service experience is $32 per person (although the price can vary based on your selections). White Branches encourages customers to make reservations through their website. Once you’ve been thoroughly enchanted by tea time, the whole world of White Branches events will be waiting for you to explore! 100 E. Montgomery St., Ste. 210, Mount Vernon, 360.848.1192, whitebranches.com
