Royal Wedding Madness Hits the 'Colonies' Here in Geneva

It’s nearly impossible to go anywhere lately without running into some kind of hype about Prince William and Kate Middleton's impending Royal Wedding, and Geneva residents have most definitely caught the fever. 

The Little Traveler at 404 S. Third Street sold out two Royal Wedding Teas before they’d even gotten around to promoting the second date, and according to Jane Bristow (the event’s organizer and buyer for the store’s gourmet department), several area residents are planning their own Royal Wedding Teas at home, for which she offers some advice. 

What is it about the elegant affair that has us so mesmerized? Is it because, despite that whole American Revolution/“ruled by the people for the people” episode of our history, we secretly long for the monarchy we cast aside? Or are we simply curious because we lack the tradition of royalty in our own culture? Or—and I think this is the most likely—are we merely looking for an excuse to don a silly hat and speak in our flawed and cringe-worthy British accents?

Whatever the reason, Bristow tells us how do a proper English tea up right with products that can be purchased locally at The Little Traveler. 

“Fine bone china, fragrant tea, cucumber sandwiches, and the most refined of biscuits are the essence of English afternoon tea,” she says. 

As the perfect tea for the affair, she recommends Harney & Sons’ Wedding: A Tea for Marriage. This is a blend of Chinese Mutan white tea with pink rosebuds and petals and hints of lemon and vanilla. Of course, a true English tea includes a variety, so to round out your selections Bristow suggests Harney & Sons’ Tower of London Blend, Palace Gardens Chamomile, and Royal English Breakfast.

She tells me that biscuits by Elegant & English are “an English experience” that is known for complementary flavor combinations, including Ginger & Lemon, Chocolate & Raspberry, and Vanilla & Cream. 

Serving fresh-baked scones right from your own oven adds a personal and elegant touch to an English tea, and Bristow offers a convenient tip: scone mixes from Sticky Fingers Bakeries. All you have to do is add water and bake. Variety is again the key to a successful tea, and the scone mixes come in several flavors, including Black Currant, Lemon Poppyseed, Wild Blueberry, and Tart Cherry.

To make your Royal Wedding Tea stand out as something special, Bristow advises adding unique touches, like sugar cubes decorated by hand and an authentic Lemon Curd imported from England.

If you still prefer to have someone else prepare the tea and don’t necessarily need the Royal Wedding as an excuse, The Herrington and The Little Traveler have you covered. at the Herrington serves an Afternoon Tea every third Thursday of the month from 3 to 4:30 p.m.; $19.50. The Atrium Café at The Little Traveler serves Afternoon Tea every Thursday (2 to 4 p.m.) and Saturday (2 to 4:30 p.m.); $12.95.