TeaLula — Restaurant in Maine Township

TeaLula is a wonderful tea shop with an excellent Afternoon Tea service. The owners are wonderful and care about customer feedback and experience. We are so glad to have them in our neighborhood.

Tea time above all should be about the tea. Tea needs to be appropriately brewed to certain temperatures and for a certain amount of time based on the variety. Here they do not serve you a boiling pot of water with loose leaves to sit and over brew during your experience like many others. They brew each pot to temp and time before it reaches you and remove the leaves to prevent the tea from becoming bitter. This way each cup you have is perfect. They are the first location I have been to in the dozens of tea times I have experienced that does not rely on the customer to make the decision of when to stop brewing the tea leaves. That way you can focus on your conversations and relax.

The tea tower is beautifully made with savory and sweet portions along with fresh fruit which is a nice touch. They serve house made clotted cream which takes a day to prepare but is a wonderful topping for scones. Their kitchen is in the building so everything is fresh made. It is all these little details that make the experience top notch.

They also have a tea to go counter and include a tea to go after your tea service if you'd like. They have everything from standard iced or hot tea to tea lattes. Each is again prepared with care. You don't get a to go cup with a giant tea bag to sit and over steep. It takes a little extra time for them to prepare this for you but it is worth it. Each sip of my London Fog was perfect and I did not have to struggle in the car to remove a giant tea bag to prevent it from becoming undrinkable like from other tea/coffee establishments.

Highly recommend, we will be...

We LOVE TeaLula!!!! I thought I was gonna be a store-bought, bagged-tea guy fer life, but my fiancé found this lovely store fer us, & I am now completely hooked on this store, & the amazing plethora of loose leaf teas within these cozy walls.

The store is bright, clean, & quietly energetic. There are teas, teapots, scones, honey straws, & all manner of other tea-related delights.

There is always at least one tea available for sampling, and there is a tea bar where drinks can be ordered.

The teas are definitely pricier than what would be found at your local grocery store, but they won't break the bank, & they're SO worth it!!!

They had a tearoom where you could sample any tea they have but that is currently unavailable (as of 12/1/22) because THEY'RE EXPANDING!! WAHOO!! Hopefully when construction is done the tearoom will return, as it is so wonderful ta be able ta sample any tea before you buy it; that way you won't go home with tea that you wind up not liking.

PLEASE NOTE that while construction is being completed on the expansion, indoor seating is only available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Protips: one, sign up for the rewards program!! It's worth it ta do so. Two, the staff is always super helpful and one of the ways they can assist is if you want a certain quantity of tea and it's not available on the floor, they will likely be able to package you the size that you need; all you hafta do is ask, if they don't offer first, which they may anyway because they're so friendly, helpful, & efficient.

We cannot recommend TeaLula enough! We live in Rogers Park, & yet still make regular pilgrimages to Park Ridge to visit & enjoy. It's so very worth it! Have I mentioned it's...

My recent visit to TeaLula for a Christmas high tea was an extraordinary experience, marked by exceptional personalization and warmth. The festive ambiance was set with our names elegantly displayed and napkins folded into Christmas trees, complete with star-shaped jelly toppers.TeaLula’s attentiveness shone through in their menu adaptation for my dietary preference. As a non-pork eater, I was offered not just one, but two customized options, reflecting their dedication to customer satisfaction.Our high tea journey commenced with a delightful choice of teas, with owner Fred enlightening us about the brewing process. This was followed by a charming tomato soup served in quaint teacups, seamlessly blending elegance with comfort.The highlight was the three-tiered high tea tray, featuring a variety of sandwiches, scones with lemon curd, jam, and butter, and a top tier of festive, Christmas-themed desserts. Each item was a testament to their culinary prowess.The personal touch extended further as the chef himself described the special dishes prepared for me, adding to the overall bespoke experience. Fred's warm reception made us feel like part of the TeaLula family, enhancing the homely atmosphere.TeaLula's high tea was not just a meal, but a celebration of tradition and friendship. It has swiftly become our annual Christmas tradition, and I eagerly anticipate introducing more friends to this enchanting place. TeaLula is a true gem, a family-owned business that excels in making every guest feel cherished...