What do Barack Obama, David Beckham, Agatha Christie, and fictional characters Jessica Fletcher, the Mad Hatter and the Hobbits all have in common?
They all love a “good cuppa” as the British so quaintly describe a cup of tea. That’s well and good for the Brits who have tearooms galore to choose from.
But here in the U.S., where there’s a coffee shop seemingly on every block, finding that perfect place to stop in for an invigorating Lapsang Souchong, a refreshing Peach Blossom or a soothing Lychee Rose is a bit more challenging.
Not so in Richmond where Golden Leaves Tea Room & Café has been catering to tea lovers for the past four years.
For this happy situation, you can thank Golden Leaves’ owner Samantha Moran – and while you’re at it, you can also thank her daughter Lela.
When Moran enrolled the then five-year-old in a tea etiquette class sponsored by her Girl Scout Daisy troop, the youngster became smitten with Earl Grey.
That led Moran, who suffered from inflammation, to extensively research the healing properties of various teas to help control her autoimmune issue.
“I discovered hibiscus flowers and mint were good for reducing inflammation,” she says.
It was a short jump from research to development for Moran who began working in a tearoom in downtown Richmond in 2017.
“I remember the year because it was the same year that the Beauty and the Beast live action movie opened,” she says. Spoken like the mother of a young girl.
In 2021, she opened her own tearoom in the Richmond Mall where she has an inventory of more than 100 ethically sourced, organic teas.
“We have teas from Sri Lanka, Japan, China, the State of Assam in India, and the Cederberg Mountain Region in the Western Cape of South Africa,” says Moran.
For those who may not be tea experts, this part of South Africa is the only place in the world where Rooibos tea is successfully grown.
Whatever your tea color preference, Golden Leaves has it – black, green, and white. There are teas with fruit flavors – apricot, lemon, mango, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, apple and banana.
There are teas that carry a hint of the season (Summer Lemon); some that give you a taste of your favorite breakfast but minus the calories (Blueberry Pancake), and some that make you wonder just what’s in it (Gunpowder.)
You can opt for an Afternoon Low Tea – a bottomless pot of tea for the table, scones and a variety of tea sandwiches and desserts, or the Golden Tea, which has all the features of the Low Tea, but with soup and salad added.
Patrons can get a full breakfast up until noon when the menu switches to lunch. And yes, they can even get coffee, if they insist.
Guests are sometimes taken aback by the candles hanging upside down from the ceiling, but Moran explains that July always brings their special Harry Potter Tea, “and I’ve just not summoned the energy to take them down yet.”
She also hosts special teas for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and the Christmas holidays, the latter whose theme changes every year.
Don’t be surprised to see the occasional celebrity pop in for the themed teas. Moran says that past guests have included Spiderman, Alice and the Mad Hatter, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen’s Elsa and Anna.
Moran oversees both the tearoom with its cozy atmosphere of faux brick walls, window boxes, and a large cupboard bookcase lined with a selection of teapots and books, and a front room shop.
The retail part of her business has an inventory which includes packaged looseleaf tea, scented candles and soaps, and other indulgent treasures for kitchen and bath.
If you want to have a cup of tea at the Richmond Mall location, it’s served Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
However, you better do it soon as Golden Leaves will close in its current location while Moran moves to her new tearoom at Merrick Crossing on the North side of the Richmond Bypass.
The new Golden Leaves will be open by mid-October with extended hours. Moran stresses that she will be taking her décor with her and that “the vibe will be very much the same – warm and cozy.”
That’s a promise from Richmond’s very own tea lady.
For more information on Golden Leaves Tea Room & Café and other area attractions, go to visitrichmondky.com