A good cup of tea is a wonderful, cozy thing. A good tea service takes the comfort aspect and dolls it up into a tasty event. Colorado writer Ron Stern is back to share the experience of Longmont’s Luminous Tea House and Cafe with InGoodTasteDenver.com readers.
Luminous Tea House and Cafe is one of the newest additions to downtown Longmont’s ever-expanding gastronomic scene. Offering more than 125 curated tea blends, they serve up authentic tastes of traditional British and Indian-inspired delicacies. Prepare your taste buds for some of the best savory sandwiches, sweet pastries, and desserts–all at an affordable price!
Having traveled extensively in India and Malaysia, co-owner Swapnil Joshi loved visiting street cafes where locals gathered for tea, conversation, and traditional foods. He also loved the long-time tradition of British tea, a light snack typically served in the mid-afternoon.
After settling in Longmont, he and his partner began selling their brand of loose teas at farmers’ markets and special events. After developing a loyal following, they opened their brick-and-mortar location right on Main Street in November 2024.
The décor is open and cheery, with an abundance of natural light. Packaged teas adorn the walls, accompanied by testers that beckon you to smell the aroma of each fragrance. Each table is covered in a linen cloth festooned with colorful wildflowers.
You have your choice of two different Afternoon Tea Services: The traditional (British) and High Chai Indian ($35 per person). My wife and I ordered one of each.
Each tower of delights came to our table accompanied by our choice of teas. I went with their Earl Grey lavender blend, and my wife had Darjeeling. Each full teapot was a work of art–ornately decorated China collected or donated by customers.
The traditional service included savory sandwiches like cucumber with dill, chicken salad with onions, and curry chickpeas. The second tier featured a lovely chocolate croissant and blueberry scone accompanied by house-made clotted cream and jam. Now, just to pause here–this clotted cream is quite rare to find here in the States, and it takes Joshi a full 12 hours to prepare. The top level had a couple of desserts–my favorite being their Earl Grey panna cotta topped with raspberry jam.
I had never heard of any U.S.-based teahouse serving an Indian-style Afternoon Tea–and we weren’t disappointed! It starts with flavorful cucumber and chutney cheese sandwiches and some bite-sized paneer tikka kabobs. Our host suggested eating the crispy pani puri ball with potatoes in green sauce in one bite–fabulous! Then came the “deconstructed samosa chaat”, carrot pudding, and chai tiramisu–the latter has even brought some to tears for its rich flavor profile.
À la carte selections are also available, along with coffee, espresso, and tea sampler sets. Their wellness loose-leaf tea sets, for example, include blends like Breathe Easy, Recovery Boost, Zen Garden, and Belly Bliss.
Fortunately, you don’t have to fly to either the UK or India to enjoy the pleasures of Afternoon Tea. Luminous Tea has hit all the right notes for providing a cozy ambiance paired with a high-quality, immersive culinary experience.
To learn more about Luminous Tea House and Cafe, visit their website, here.
-Story and photos by Ron Stern
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