Th e Tea House on Los Rios
31731 Los Rios St. | San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949-443-3914 | www.theteahouseonlosrios.com The Tea House on Los Rios is a grand yet humble place for tea. Opened in January of 1998 by Claudia Niccola and her daughters, the whole operation started as a dream. “I dreamt of opening a tea house, and when I found this location, I knew it was the spot.” The Tea House is located in the historic district of Los Rios near the San Juan Capistrano Mission in what was once a working man’s home. The history is rich and you can feel it within the walls. When the Niccola family purchased the property, it was in shambles and condemned, but they patiently and precisely pieced it back together. They had to completely redo the home but kept as much of the original work as they could. The details are exquisite. Some of the ceilings are original wood, and you can see where the layers of paint have worn away with generation after generation of inhabitants. The home is now a three-room teahouse that welcomes anyone in their doors. Although traditional English tea tends to be a fancy affair, The Tea House does not snub their nose to anyone. “Everyone is
welcome,” said Claudia. They serve bike riders, children, men and women, really anyone is family at this quaint spot. Open five days a week from 11-5 pm and 9:30-5 pm on weekends, accepting walk-ins but encouraging reservations as it tends to fill up quickly. They serve 25 different loose-leaf teas and a full menu that will satisfy even the hungriest of men. I sat in the “music room,” decorated with old wood wind instruments and floral wall paper that reminded me of home where I enjoyed a pot of cherry rose tea while listening to the southern California rain fall outside. A traditional English tea service has much to do with the process and the tradition of taking tea. It is a time to relax and socialize with your company, and it is customary to sit for several hours of enjoyment. On a not so traditional note, this teahouse offers champagne and tea for brunch. Their pomegranate mimosa is to die for. Claudia owns a pomegranate farm up north in Dinuba and brings down fresh pomegranates to make the pure juice they add to their champagne. So whether your forte is tea, snacks or mimosas, The Tea House on Los Rios have you covered. It is such a wonderful experience to treat yourself to tea. The world is fast place but teatime is not, and I think there is something beautiful about that: “building relationships one cup at a time.”
| RE:DEUX 2013 Issue | 81