AFTERNOON tea at Izabela Serwin’s Colchester tea lounge and shop is a literary delight.

Tea master Izabela, who launched the Cardamon Tea Lounge in St John’s Street almost 18 months ago, is among a growing number of people offering up a themed afternoon tea experience for customers.

In fact her Alice in Wonderland extravaganza has even caught the eye of the family of the original Alice from the classic story.

“Recently her relatives, one of her nieces, came in and had the tea and they were very complimentary.

“They had actually been searching for somewhere that did one,” she explains.

Guests are given small bottles labelled drink me and there are quotes from the Alice in Wonderland book used throughout the shop and the menu.

“We have really unusual and interesting sandwich fillings too like Nutella and raspberry and we also encourage customers to try different flavoured scones.

“I make ones with green tea and also chocolate as well as the fruit scones which are obviously still the most popular.”

Izabela also offers a version of her afternoon tea delight for youngsters - the ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’.

Izabela has travelled across the world training to be a tea expert including at the famous Tea Shop in Barcelona in Spain and has also trained with tea specialist and historian Jane Pettigrew in London.

As well as stocking around 30 different blends of tea, she also puts on monthly workshops on a different theme.

She added: “People tend to stick to English Breakfast Tea because it is what they know, and they don’t want to risk ordering something they don’t like.

“But I encourage them to have a taste of different kinds and when they come in an again they are a bit more adventurous.”

Tymperleys Tea Rooms, in the heart of Colchester, also prides itself on its wide selection of teas - and there is not a tea bag in sight at any venue.

Sheila Charrington, who helps run the tea rooms along with daughter Alice, says afternoon tea, and cream teas, are by far their most requested choices from the menu.

“We make our own scones here, with lots of different flavours, and the cakes are also produced locally,” she said.

“I think we will be making even more of a fuss about afternoon tea this week,” adds Sheila.