The tea we had at the mansion - yesterday’s post - was provided by a tea company just a short distance from Lexington in Danville, KY. So we thought we would visit. Turned out to be much more than we expected. The town intself is historic with beautiful old homes, Center College, and a great heritage, for example, this is where the Kentucky Constitution was signed.

The tea company, Elmwood Inn, was also much more than we expected. It was there we met Bruce, the proprietor, and, in keeping with our emerging theme, so much more than one would expect. Bruce is an encyclopedia of tea knowledge but that is not just our newly formed opinion, it is seen in his many books on the subject and his speaking about tea that takes him around the world, Bruce’s tea shop was the first in the US to be designated by the English Tea Association. His expertise in blending teas is sought out across the globe and he is known for his designer teas. One example was his blend to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party in 2023. He has designed teas for royalty, famous restaurants and many special occasions. We chatted with him and had an informative tour of the little shop that is adjacent to the shipping and production end of his business. We also enjoyed a tasting of two distinct teas. We did, naturally, purchase three cans of tea, Paris Afternoon, Paris Morning and Chocolate Mint. They are in small cans with a sealed reusable lid and will keep the tea fresh for a long while. There is a lot of tea in each container as well so very well-priced. Jill also bought a book - that Bruce autographed with lots of afternoon tea menus, ideas and recipes. Danville and the Elmwood Inn Tea Company turned out to be a delightful afternoon stop.

More information here: https://www.elmwoodinn.com