A new tea shop in Columbus allows locals to experience an authentic British tearoom experience.
Tina’s Traditional Tearoom, 1702 Pennsylvania St., Columbus, serves lunch and traditional British tea from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Owner Tina Jesson, a native of England, has opened two other tearooms in the state, in Danville and Carmel. In Columbus, as in the other cities’ locations, Jesson chooses historical buildings that represent her traditional tearoom brand.
At 28 years old, Tina Jesson walked through the doors of a traditional English tea room and immediately felt at home.
From that moment on, Jesson, who moved from England to Brownsburg, Indiana in 2008, promised herself that she would one-day open her own tea room by age 60.
Now, at 51 years old, Jesson has opened her third traditional British tea room, this time in Columbus. Jesson, owner of Tina’s Traditional Tea Room located in Carmel and Danville, welcomes people of all ages to experience her hometown of Derbyshire, England through an array of English pastries, loose leaf tea and sandwiches.
“People always say if you’re going to start your own business, do something you love,” Jesson said. “I’ve always been a baker.”
Tina’s Traditional Tearoom, 1702 Pennsylvania St., Columbus, serves lunch and traditional British tea from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Before opening her first shop in 2014, Jesson sold homemade British pastries at farmer’s markets around the state. As business grew more demanding, she started hosting tea parties for birthday parties and church groups. It was then when Jesson realized her calling was to open a shop.
Jesson spent two years searching for her first location at 30 N. Rangeline Road in Carmel. From mothers and fathers to grandparents and children, the shop is always bustling with customers from around the state.
“Coming here from the U.K., food is such a great connector,” she said. There are so many things we missed that you can’t get in the states. I thought, ‘Well it’d be nice to make a scone or make Scottish coffee and share that with people.”
What sets Tina’s Traditional Tea Room apart from other tea rooms is how the tea and meals are served.
“A tea room is where you come in, sit down and enjoy your tea,” she said. “That’s how we serve our tea. It’s loose leaf in a tea pot — the traditional English way. The menu itself is all British — British food is the core of what we do. The truth is, it’s all I know. I’m British and this is what I grew up with. I just want to share that with a lot of people.”
When people walk through the front door of the Carmel shop, Jesson said they often are surprised to see the environment. To enhance the experience, Jesson and her employees can oftentimes be found sporting authentic English attire.
To describe the shop, Jesson said it’s as if customers are walking straight into England. Several first-time customers often tell Jesson that her tea room is their new favorite place to come, even before they order their food.
Jesson has many hopes for the future of the new store in Columbus, which is located in the former Addison Bakehouse restaurant property near Columbus Regional Hospital.
There is currently no business similar to what Jesson offers in the Bartholomew County area, which is one reason why she was drawn to Columbus.
The city’s historical and unique elements also played a large role in her decision to expand south. She hopes the new location draws people in for baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties and other events, but she’s thankful nonetheless for the opportunity to serve whoever walks in the door.
“I just love sharing the foods and history with folks,” she said. “You’re changing a person’s day. They might come in a bit stressed or have had a really bad day, but when they eat the traditional English food, they relax and feel so much better when they go away.”
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Tina’s Traditional Tearoom, 1702 Pennsylvania St., Columbus, serves lunch and traditional British tea from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Owner Tina Jesson, a native of England, has opened two other tearooms in the state, in Danville and Carmel. In Columbus, as in the other cities’ locations, Jesson chooses historical buildings that represent her traditional tearoom brand, according to a statement.
Learn more about Jesson and British tea at www.TinasTraditional.com and www.facebook.com/TinasTraditionalColumbus or call 812-657-3484.
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