The picture above is the perfect summary of our day at Tea in the Trees because it captures a whole lot about what the place is. Tea in the Trees is perfect for pictures and a great place to sit and enjoy good food with friends and family. When you are there, it is easy to get lost in the moment with the tea cups hanging on the trees, aloes all around and unpretentious decor. I love that it is only a 25km drive which is not too far from East London.

On my previous visit there last year before I became a resident of the Eastern Cape, I didn’t get a chance to sample their kitchen delights as we arrived after the kitchen had closed. So on my most recent visit there I made sure that we had ample time to enjoy the market and the food.

SERVICE

On arrival we got a table but were uncertain about where to get menus and where to get food. We expected a waitress to come and greet us so when that didn’t happen I got up and got a menu from an empty table near us.  That’s when I read that orders are placed inside and you collect your drinks there too. I appreciated that they actually wrote this on the menu, but they would do well to train their staff to be on the lookout for unfamiliar faces. Once we got over this hurdle it was smooth sailing from hereon.

The lady taking orders was amazing, so friendly and charming. She turned out to be the owner.

We were there for a while and before they closed we were offered baked goods at a discounted price. I appreciated that the owner actually came out and spoke to all the patrons and extended the baked goods special to everyone, not just the regulars. What a pleasant lady.

THE FOOD

I was tempted and succumbed to their big breakfast special of a hung over burger with a succulent beef patty, bacon and cheese, gherkin, mushroom, avocado and pesto. Even though I had no hangover to cure, the description of this burger was just too mouthwatering to resist. The avocado and pesto relish that accompanied the burger was simply divine. What a delightful flavourful mouthful! Be warned though, this was such a big burger that I ended up having mine without a bun.

Hungover burger

The fillings were sufficient to satisfy my hunger and appetite.My husband was keen to try their banting lamb burger from their “best burgers in town” selection but unfortunately they had run out of lamb, so he settled for a beef patty on a big mushroom with avocado and a sweet chilli, lemon grass and ginger jam. He loved it.

My little girl ate from the kid’s selection, which was quite varied.  She isn’t a fan of eggs so she settled for a sausage, beans and chips. I was concerned about the small size of this meal, but for R35 I couldn’t complain. Besides, there was enough food at the table to share to fill that little hole in her tummy that was left unfed.

Banting beef burger on mushroom with sweet chilli, lemongrass and ginger jam; feta; and avo

My son also had a burger, which he enjoyed so much that he opted to takeaway so that he could carry it for his lunch the following day. Did I mention that the burger came with both a salad and chips? They are very generous in the Eastern Cape!

Sadly my tea, which I ordered to finish my meal wasn’t so great. I suspect it’s me not being used to the water here at the coast. I could barely taste the actual tea, however I appreciated that the owner understood when I brought it to her attention that she offered me a second cup for free. I ultimately settled for having tea at home as I couldn’t let a cup of tea spoil what had been a pleasant day for all of us.

WHY VISIT THEM

Some of the homemade preserves on sale

I can’t think of a reason why you should not visit this quirky place. If you want time out of town surrounded by beauty while you indulge in home-made real food, this is the place. Their food is delicious and you can also pick up some homemade jams, chutneys and marmalades. They also have delightful fresh home-made cakes and baked treats, perfect for your afternoon tea.

It is on your way to Cintsha beach so you could make a stop here on your way to or from the beach for brunch.

The place is child friendly with a big play area that has a jungle gym, a sandpit and enough space for the kids to run free. There were so many opportunities for pictures because of how beautifully decorated the entire place is.

You can feel the love that went into decorating the place as you walk around the property that even going to the toilet feels like a special affair. I didn’t see a lot of the market as my objective on this day was to eat from their kitchen. This gives me a reason to go back.

 

 

Location : Chintsa West, Lusizini, East London