Last week, I was able to experience the Williamsburg Inn Holiday Tea with my mom. Here’s a review of that event in case you are considering booking it.
Williamsburg Inn Holiday Tea
When I was a child, my mom and I attended a Mother’s Day tea at a local historical place. My mom didn’t think we would enjoy it, but I loved it! Unfortunately, due to the lack of local offerings and financial restraints, I didn’t enjoy a formal tea again for the next 20 years! Thankfully, I find myself in a better situation than I grew up in and enjoy the experience of a seasonally themed tea every so often. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to discover the grand Williamsburg Inn hosts seasonal tea events.
As a guest of the CW resorts, we were able to book this holiday offering before the general public. My mom called and booked it on September 10th. She had to pre-pay to book the reservation. It was $72/each plus service charge and tax. In total, it cost $193.54 for the both of us to enjoy this holiday experience!
The Food
The savory course included: Turkey and Sage Bread Pudding with Lingonberry Jam, Yuletide Baked Virginia Ham and Gruyere Pinwheel, Roasted Chicken with Figgy Jam, Brie, and Cress, Onion Marmalade, Herbed Chevre Truffle, Cucumber Canapés with Fire Roasted Peppers, and Mushroom & Chestnut Bisque. I really enjoyed most of these items. My favorite was the pinwheel with the bread pudding in a close second. Neither of us enjoyed the truffle (we aren’t big goat cheese fans) or bisque (too salty). I thought it was a nice touch that the cucumber canapes were tree shaped! Overall, it was a great savory course.
The Scones Service included I’m Dreaming of a Sugar Laden Stollen Scones, Christmas Spiced Devonshire Cream, Orange Marmalade, and Lemon Curd. The scone was harder/crunchier than we are used to for scones. However, it tasted good. I loved the cream and lemon curd.
The Festive Sweets included: Ginger Snaps, Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake, Peppermint Bark Tea Cookie, American Heritage Crunch Chocolate Cup, and Eggnog Cream Tart. The ginger snap had especially hard/crunch edges with a soft center with a nice ginger flavor. I enjoyed the bundt cake even though I don’t like orange much. I guess it was light on the orange. The chocolate cup was cute with its chocolate bear! The eggnog cream tart was more sweet than eggnog and that was preferable for us. The peppermint cookie was heavy on the peppermint.
The Beverages
As for the teas, we got to sample Warmer in the Winter and Herbal Bourbon Chestnut Tea. It was the perfect flavor for the cold weather. The spice was just right. It tasted great on its own but was elevated with some sugar (cubes).
Additionally, a glass of French Sparkling Wine or Sparkling Apple Cider was included. We sampled the sparkling wine but probably should have just gotten the apple cider since we aren’t big drinkers.
The Atmosphere
I love the Williamsburg Inn. I feel fancier just walking into this place. So, enjoying a meal here is a real treat. Then, add in the holiday decor and it’s amazing! It was a wonderful surprise to have live music being played during the meal as well. The entire experience was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon at the holidays. It was probably one of my favorite things we did on this trip.
Is the Williamsburg Inn Holiday Tea worth it?
This was my most expensive tea experience to date. Our local place charges about half the price. However, this was a more elevated food experience and there was live music. Also, it was on a busy Saturday in Colonial Williamsburg. I think this is great for people looking for a fancier experience or to try new foods. However, if you prefer simpler foods or a more casual atmosphere, you should probably consider somewhere else. You can look at my Colonial Williamsburg Food Guide for help in choosing another restaurant.
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