Celebrating the Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party with Unique Ways To Drink Tea Around Boston

Photo Credit: Boston Tea Party Museum and Ships

We’re coming up on one of the most significant anniversaries in Boston, and American, history. December 16th will mark the 245th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, the most important event leading up to the American Revolution. Can you believe it’s been a whole 245 years since the colonists protested the British tax against tea and proceeded to dump over 90,000 pounds of the stuff into Boston Harbor in the middle of the night? Whether you’re a history-buff or someone who wants to visit Boston’s most patriotic attraction, you can see a live re-enactment of the events on Sunday December 16th at The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. For those of you who just love tea, scratch the party, Boston has lots of amazing tea to offer in more ways than just a cuppa. Grab a biscuit and check out this list of unique ways to drink tea around Boston!

Visit Abigail’s Tea Room & Terrace

Photo Credit: @cerebellicose via Instagram

While you’re paying the Boston Tea Party Museum and Ships a visit pop in for a spot of tea at Abigail’s Tea Room where you can taste the five historic teas that the colonists threw overboard at the Boston Tea Party. In addition to beverages they serve sandwiches, salads, and soups along with pastries and sweets. Enjoy the ambiance as you gaze out at waterfront views and chit chat with friendly ladies dressed in colonial garb. Take a step back into history right off of Boston’s streets.

Have the Cold Tea Cocktail from Shojo

Photo Credit: Bites of Boston

Who said tea couldn’t be alcoholic? We sure didn’t, and neither did Shojo. The award-winning spot serving modern Asian cuisine and killer cocktails in a space decked out with cool murals is taking tea as we know it to a whole new level. They are serving a cocktail called Cold Tea For Two in a teapot full of ice with small traditional tea cups to drink out of. The drink consists of oolong tea-infused vodka, peache de vigne, oolong syrup, and lemon. Now that’s something to cheers to. The cocktail’s name has some history behind it. It’s based off of the old concept of “cold tea” which people used to drink after-hours in Boston’s Chinatown, except that the tea was actually cheap beer. Boston has strict liquor laws and to get around this people would mask their beer as tea late at night. Sneaky, sneaky.

Have Afternoon Tea at the Taj

Photo Credit: @janeyhathai via Instagram

If you’d like to enjoy your tea in a pinkies-up fashion, then head to the Taj on a weekend for some exceptional afternoon tea. Indulge in the classic three-tiered tray of pastries, petit fours, scones, and finger sandwiches, and of course, a pot of tea, which they have a word-wide collection of. Oh, did we mention they also have infused tea cocktails on the menu? Their tea experience is of the utmost excellence as it’s both silver-service and white-gloved. Held in their elegant French and Adams Rooms this is sure to be a memorable afternoon in celebration of tea.

Visit the TeaLuxe Shop

Photo Credit: Tealuxe

Visit one of Harvard Square’s most beloved tea shops that’s been open for over 10 years or visit their Newbury Street location, which is coming up on it’s 10 year anniversary. This quaint tea shop feels a bit mystical with a huge, looming wall of black, numbered, iron drawers filled with loose teas of every kind. Whatever flavor or benefit you want in your tea they can open a draw and satisfy your need. Have a cup to stay and enjoy the atmosphere or take it to go. We can never leave with just one bag of tea, so prepare to stock up when you’re there, it’s hard not to!

Have Bubble Tea from Gong Cha

Photo Credit: Gong Cha

Gong Cha, meaning “tribute tea for the emperor,” is a global tea shop serving some of the best bubble tea in Boston. They started in Taiwan in 2006 and were a hit when they opened their doors in the U.S. For those of you unfamiliar with the drink, it’s cold and frothy, made with iced tea, sweetened milk, or other flavorings, and usually has sweet black balls or “pearls” made from tapioca on the bottom of the cup, which you slurp up with a thick straw. It’s a delicious and refreshing treat. Gong Cha USA has become known for their “Milk Foam,” which is slightly salted cream topping above freshly brewed tea. This is a tea-lovers paradise for sure!

Photo Credit: Banyan Bar + Refuge

If you’d prefer to eat your tea instead, we have the perfect dessert for you in one of our favorite neighborhoods — the South End. The green tea cheesecake from Banyan Bar + Refuge is spectacular. This slice of heaven is made up of a fortune cookie and Nilla wafer crust, velvety green-tea cheesecake center, and a hefty dollop of coconut cream and toasted coconut shavings to top it off. If you’re not out the door already and on your way there to celebrate the 245th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, then maybe we can tempt you with their Tea For Two cocktail made with Japanese whiskey, drambuie, lemon, honey, and angostura. Yeah, we figured that would do that trick!