A Brief History of Treasured Tea Time

In early 1996, Cheryl attended a Ladies’ time-management seminar that was led by author and speaker Emily Barnes.  In addition to great information for busy mom’s Emily talked about how growing up, her own mother used to stop at 4:00 every afternoon for a pot of tea and teatime snacks.  Emily carried on the tradition and recommended the ladies do the same as a way to slow down and relax each day.

Cheryl took her seriously.  She bought all of Emily’s recipe and gift books and came home excited.  Soon she had a small collection of fine china cups and saucers and a variety of loose leaf teas.  As time went on, Cheryl noticed women in the church and neighborhood who were periodically enduring hardships.  She began making small tea parties, packing them in a basket and sharing them with these ladies at their homes.  Soon others became aware of how nice the parties were and asked Cheryl to provide tea parties for them; and Treasured Tea Time was born!

In early 2001, Cheryl purchased “Heavenly Tea” in Land Park; the establishment that supplied her with tea and accoutrements for her catering business.  After changing the décor to match Cheryl’s love of the Victorian Era, Treasured Tea Time, Tea Room, Gift Shop, and Catering opened on May 1, 2001.  She immediately began growing the business and making many hundreds of dear friends.  She did so well that she was mentioned in Sacramento Magazine’s “Best of Sacramento” every year Tea Rooms were listed as a category.

As well as running the Tea Room, Cheryl continued to cater tea parties, rent tea accoutrements, and supply food-items-to-go for those needing assistance with their own parties.  In addition, Cheryl spoke (and still speaks) to Women’s Groups, Mother Daughter Events, Library Groups, and many others.  Topics vary from giving her Dynamic Testimony of surviving much pain  and loss through the years, to Teatime History, and Etiquette/manners for Children’s Tea Parties.

In January, 2003, Cheryl’s husband was mobilized for “only six months” with the Army to support the Global War on Terror.  Because of the “temporary” mobilization, Cheryl continued to run the business and Larry came home as often as possible to visit.  New orders and new assignments continued to arrive and Larry was stationed farther and farther away from California.  Seven years later, he is currently in the Washington DC area and looks to stay for awhile longer. 

Being away from each other for four of seven years, Cheryl and Larry did not want to continue living apart.  So with Larry’s help, Cheryl made one of the toughest decisions of her life.  She decided to scale Treasured Tea Time back to a Catering and Tea Party Rental Service in order to spend more time with Larry, their children, grandchildren, and Cheryl’s parents.  She misses her friends dearly, but is adjusting to a slower pace that allows her to enjoy time with family and friends.

Cheryl currently offers Full Service Tea Party Catering.  She rents all tea party items needed for a Victorian Teatime, and prepares food-to-go for those holding their own parties.  In addition, she continues to offer loose leaf tea for sale.  As she adjusts, ( and in the near future) she plans to offer many fine tea related gifts over her web-she hopes to offer many fine gifts over her web-site.

Cheryl is very grateful for the overwhelming love and support she receives since making this decision.  She never tires of talking anything Tea, anything Victorian, and anything Jane Austen.  She is just a phone call or email away!

Thank you and God Bless.