We've Got You
It did annoy us how frequently the rules or etiquette of afternoon tea got in the way of our enjoyment…..’ you have to pre-book, ‘not served before 3pm’ and don’t get me started on the looks you get if you ask for Earl Grey tea with milk instead of lemon!
So when we were deciding what Hamilton’s Tea House was going to be, first and foremost, we wanted it to be the sort of place that we’d visit as a family, where what we wanted was more important than what the rules said we could have.
Think of it as having the feel of a friendly village corner shop, delivered with the attention to detail of a Savoy hotel butler, where expectations are exceeded, not met, alongside a food offer that is interesting and defined by the quality of local produce and supply partners.
As you’d expect, we have an incredible selection of teas but also amazing local coffee and the best hot chocolate.
Great homemade baked treats, especially our frosted cinnamon rolls and scones, all baked fresh every day.
Great afternoon teas, indulgent treats and simple, hearty lunches.
To this we’ve thrown an amazing selection of martinis and cocktails in to the mix and as a couple of my favourite sayings go……
‘happiness is……..finding 2 olives in your martini when you are hungry.’
‘If it wasn’t for cocktails, how would your friends know you love them at 2am?’
As much as the food and drink will be great, it will be the service and the team that make the difference and make us the place to pop into in Farnham for tea and a treat.
Our team are as vital to us as our guests, and we believe that the happier we make the team, the more comfortable they’ll make our guests. As we say in hospitality, ‘if you’re not looking after a guest, you’d better be looking after someone who is’.
We've Got You
It did annoy us how frequently the rules or etiquette of afternoon tea got in the way of our enjoyment…..’ you have to pre-book, ‘not served before 3pm’ and don’t get me started on the looks you get if you ask for Earl Grey tea with milk instead of lemon!
So when we were deciding what Hamilton’s Tea House was going to be, first and foremost, we wanted it to be the sort of place that we’d visit as a family, where what we wanted was more important than what the rules said we could have.
Think of it as having the feel of a friendly village corner shop, delivered with the attention to detail of a Savoy hotel butler, where expectations are exceeded, not met, alongside a food offer that is interesting and defined by the quality of local produce and supply partners.
As you’d expect, we have an incredible selection of teas but also amazing local coffee and the best hot chocolate.
Great homemade baked treats, especially our frosted cinnamon rolls and scones, all baked fresh every day.
Great afternoon teas, indulgent treats and simple, hearty lunches.
We've Got You
It did annoy us how frequently the rules or etiquette of afternoon tea got in the way of our enjoyment…..’ you have to pre-book, ‘not served before 3pm’ and don’t get me started on the looks you get if you ask for Earl Grey tea with milk instead of lemon!
So when we were deciding what Hamilton’s Tea House was going to be, first and foremost, we wanted it to be the sort of place that we’d visit as a family, where what we wanted was more important than what the rules said we could have.
Think of it as having the feel of a friendly village corner shop, delivered with the attention to detail of a Savoy hotel butler, where expectations are exceeded, not met, alongside a food offer that is interesting and defined by the quality of local produce and supply partners.
As you’d expect, we have an incredible selection of teas but also amazing local coffee and the best hot chocolate.
Great homemade baked treats, especially our frosted cinnamon rolls and scones, all baked fresh every day.
Great afternoon teas, indulgent treats and simple, hearty lunches.
To this we’ve thrown an amazing selection of martinis and cocktails in to the mix and as a couple of my favourite sayings go……
‘happiness is……..finding 2 olives in your martini when you are hungry.’
‘If it wasn’t for cocktails, how would your friends know you love them at 2am?’
As much as the food and drink will be great, it will be the service and the team that make the difference and make us the place to pop into in Farnham for tea and a treat.
Our team are as vital to us as our guests, and we believe that the happier we make the team, the more comfortable they’ll make our guests. As we say in hospitality, ‘if you’re not looking after a guest, you’d better be looking after someone who is’.
OUR TEA
There are five quality groups for tea. They are listed below in descending order of quality.
Whole Leaf & Flowers (4 grades)
Whole Leaf (4 grades)
Broken Leaf (11 grades)
Fanning (6 grades)
Dust (2 grades)
Our tea partner, Tea from the Manor, only take the top three grades from the finest whole leaf and flowers tea grade – that’s over 20 grades above dust – the quality found in most “everyday” tea bags!
The difference in taste of whole leaf tea is, simply, memorable.
Whole leaves retain their natural oil and give a richness of flavour that is merely hinted at in lower grade teas.
Each tea has its own distinctive character, “brisk”, “bright”, “full” are just some of the taste notes found in our teas – never “dull”, “harsh or “tainted”!
OUR WATER
We are delighted to be working with PureH2O Ltd, a Woking based company who manufacture, install and maintain the world’s most innovative water purification systems and the most technologically advanced boiling, chilled and sparkling water taps. Since 1991 they have been committed to providing the purest, safest, most sustainable choice of drinking water, which helps them and us to reduce environmental impact by avoiding single-use plastic bottled water.
What’s more, tea infuses perfectly when prepared with PureH2O™. The oily residue that floats on the surface of tea made with tap water is both unsightly and detracts from the taste. Because these impurities are removed by our system, tea produced with PureH2O™ takes on a beautiful clear amber hue tasting clean and refreshing.
Find out more: www.pureh2o.co.uk
OUR TEA EXPERIENCE
Here at Hamilton’s Tea House, we prepare and deliver your tea in a way that allows you to get the most from the leaves and flowers.
We will make sure your teapot and water are at the right temperature for your chosen tea and you will be served a small pot of tea and a timer with our suggestion on how long to let your tea brew.
Once you’ve poured yourself a cup of tea, which should use up most of your pot and instead of your tea ‘stewing’ in warm water, getting colder by the second, whenever you are ready, we will refill your pot with the correct temperature water so that you can start all over again. Some teas may even deliver a really great 3rd or 4th brew.
In fact, our Earl Grey tea delivers delicate bergamot in the first 2 brews, but on the 3rd brew, the bergamot drifts into the background and the citrus flavours come to the fore, giving a completely different taste.
With all of our Afternoon Tea selections, your tea is unlimited, so why not enjoy your favourite tea whilst enjoying your food and then try a loose-leaf tea that you’ve never had before! You might just find your new favourite.
All teas £2.50 - teas with a (D) next to them are also available decaffeinated
BLACK TEA
English Breakfast (D) – A classical blend of Ceylon and Assam tea, infused to perfection. Full bodied with a coppery coloured brightness.
Earl Grey (D) – Our Earl Grey black tea is an elegant blend of the finest, rich black tea leaves scented with a delicate citrus bergamot twist.
Darjeeling – Known as the Champagne of teas, Darjeeling can only be given this title if it is grown in Darjeeling, West Bengal.
Lotus Rose – The finest black tea, blended with delicate rose petals. A wonderful infusion with an aroma which is as delicious as the taste.
Lapsang Souchong – A large leaf tea with a unique smoky, drawn-out flavour is regarded as being amongst the best of the black Chinese teas.
Turmeric Chai – A warming, spicy tea blending turmeric with chai spice, sure to keep you toasty on those cold winter days.
WHITE TEA
Silver Needle – One of the rarest and most sought-after teas and should be enjoyed as you would a fine wine. Only the top shoots are selected and picked between March and April, but only when the sun is shining so any moisture from the shoots is removed.
White Downey – A rare delicacy. The tenderest white downy tea buds are handpicked with minimal processing.
White Pai Mu Tan – This sought after White Chinese Tea heralds from the Fujian area and is much favoured for its gentle floral scent.
GREEN TEA
Sencha – A green tea that is steamed before being dried to create a sweet tea flavour.
Dragon Well – A slightly sweet green tea, this tea has a refreshing, delicate, chestnut like flavour.
Jasmine – A beautiful sweet green tea, the leaves are layered with jasmine blossoms, which scent tea with their perfume.
Gunpowder – A tightly rolled green tea, with a slightly fruity flavour, made up of green leaves that ‘explode’ or rather, unfurl when infused.
Matcha – Matcha is a Japanese light tea, grown under shade, finely ground, then whisked. This vibrant green powder, is steeped in Ancient Japanese history and enriched with tradition and ritual.
SPECIAL TEAS
Rooibos (D) – A naturally earthy, caffeine free full-bodied tea that comes from the bright green needled shrubs in South Africa.
Honey – Honey, one of nature’s most delicious gifts, blended with our much-loved Ceylon tea to create a soothing, sweet and memorable flavour.
Bird of Paradise – A classical black tea, flavoured with apple, exotic papaya pieces and fragrant marigold blooms, cornflower and rose petals.
Oolong – the best balance between the richness of black tea and the tang of green tea, this high-grade oolong certainly delivers the best of both worlds.
Camomile – Essential oils in flowers produce a soothing, pleasant aroma which gives way to a sweet, surprisingly juicy flavour of Camomile.
Wild Cherry – A high grade Chinese, black tea enhanced with the delicious tangy flavour of wild cherry for a fantastic taste experience.
Red Berry & Rose Petal – A unique fruit blend of hibiscus, rosehip, apple pieces and orange peel rounded off with the delicate edge of rose petals.
Green Mint – A beautiful blend of green tea and peppermint. This hugely popular tea is famed for its refreshing virtues, with a delicate, natural mint scent.
WELLNESS TEAS
Wellness – A blend of Pu Erh green tea with exotic aloe vera pieces with beautiful, vibrant sunflower petals, guava, pineapple and a citric twist of lemon.
Motivation – A unique blend of fragrant rosehips, hibiscus, peppermint, blackcurrant and vibrant strawberry leaves will give you a great start to the day.
Heavenly Life – A refreshing blend of organic green tea infused with aromatic apricot, ginkgo leaves and scented marigold petals.
COCKTAIL SELECTION
Amaretea – A black tea seasoned with apple pieces, roasted elderberries, flaked almonds and sour cherries
Gin & Tonic – A white tea, pieces of apple, zingy lemon peel, fragrant rose petals and an enticing aroma of gin.
Pina Colada – A combination that seals in the flavour and aroma of hibiscus, shredded coconut, fruity pineapple and tropical mango with sweet black berries.
Rum Arabica – A traditional Rooibos tea combined with cocoa cores, coffee beans, cinnamon, blackcurrants with rum flavour.
Heavenly Life – A refreshing blend of organic green tea infused with aromatic apricot, ginkgo leaves and scented marigold petals.
EXCLUSIVE TEAS
Gurkha Blend
Luma Loose Leaf (extra strong English breakfast)
OUR COFFEE PARTNERS
I met Chris and Monika, owners of Surrey Hills Coffee at their roastery in the Abinger Hammer, which is on the grounds of their home, over a delicious cappuccino we discussed their coffee ethos, I was then introduced to the roasting and grinding process and left knowing that their coffee was what I was going to serve at Hamilton’s Tea House.
Find out more at www.surreyhillscoffee.co.uk.
We will be serving the delicious Holmbury Hill blend which is their premium espresso blend and my personal favourite. A medium roasted espresso blend consisting of coffee from Brazil and Colombia.
Taste profile: Full-bodied and sweet with notes of milk chocolate and nuts. No bitterness.
ESPRESSO
£2.00
The foundation for all espresso-based drinks. At its best it should have a syrupy body, be full flavoured (but definitely not bitter), be complex, sweet and have a generous layer of smooth thick crema on top.
AMERICANO / LONG BLACK
£2.25
The Americano was invented for the American soldiers during WWII. The difference between an Americano and a Long Black…..you add hot water to an espresso for an Americano, but add an espresso to hot water for a Long Black!
FLAT WHITE
£2.50
This is the standard drink in Australia and New Zealand where they make coffee stronger using more quality coffee per shot.
CAFÉ LATTE
£2.75
Arguably the UK’s favourite coffee, ideal for those who want an espresso drink without the milk dominating the cup and flavour.
CAPPUCCINO
£2.75
According to legend, 17th century Capuchin monk, Marco d’Aviano, invented the cappuccino after the Battle of Vienna.
MOCHA
£3.25
Mocha is like a hybrid between a cappuccino and a hot chocolate, which makes it quite popular for the sweet tooth!
SLOANES OF LONDON HOT CHOCOLATE
Sloanes of London, who are actually based in Byfleet, Surrey produce incredible real chocolate pearls that we believe makes the most indulgent and rich hot chocolate….ever!
Their Hot Chocolate contains more cocoa than most, delivering a real chocolate taste and the unique chocolate pearls are lovingly shined for up to 4 hours, so they not only look beautiful but melt perfectly to make an indulgent drink.
All products are certified by The Vegetarian Society and the Dark Chocolate products carry the Vegan Approved logo.
HOT CHOCOLATE – £3.50 (add caramelised marshmallows + 50p)
ELEGANT EQUADOR MILK – made from the much sought after Arriba Nacional cocoa beans and has intense roasted cocoa flavours, with a creamy caramel taste and subtle fruity hints. 39% cocoa
RAVASHING RICH DARK – made with cocoa beans from West Africa and has a ravishing cocoa body with delicate vanilla notes, delivering a pleasing rich intensity. 57% cocoa.
EXQUISITE EQUADOR DARK – intense roasted cocoa flavours with hints of fruit, rum, whisky and tobacco creating a round and balanced chocolate taste. 70% cocoa.
Hamilton’s Tea House is the home of the Afternoon Tini ™
The exact origin of the martini is unclear. The name may derive from the Martini brand of vermouth. Another popular theory suggests it evolved from a cocktail called the Martinez served sometime in the early 1860s at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, which people frequented before taking an evening ferry to the nearby town of Martinez, California.
The exact origin of the Hamilton’s Tea House Afternoon Tini is much clearer. As a family we we’re sat having afternoon tea in Cornwall, looking out over Maenporth Beach, Steph and I looked at each other and said that it would be perfect if the cafe sold cocktails so that we could finish off our lunch in style. The next day we trademarked the term Afternoon Tini and I finally got to put me years as a mixology hobbyist to good use.
Some newer drinks include the word “martini” or the suffix “-tini” in the name (e.g., appletini, peach martini, chocolate martini, breakfast martini). These are so named because they are served in a cocktail glass.
OUR MARTINIS £7.95
HAMILTINI – our signature martini
Gin, blue curacao, vermouth and fresh lemon juice
MARTINI
2 parts London Dry Gin and 1 part Dry Vermouth, stirred over ice and garnished with a green olive
DRY MARTINI
3 parts London Dry Gin and a dash of Dry Vermouth, stirred over ice and garnished with a green olive
DIRTY MARTINI
2 London Dry Gin and 1 part Dry Vermouth, stirred over ice and garnished with a green olive and a dash of the olive brine
FRENCH MARTINI
Vodka, Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) and pineapple juice
LEMON DROP MARTINI
Vodka, Cointreau, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup
LYCHEE MARTINI
Vodka, lychee liqueur, lychee juice, lychee syrup and vermouth
CHOCOLATE MARTINI
Vodka, crème de cacao and Godiva chocolate liqueur
ESPRESSO MARTINI
Vodka, a shot of espresso and Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
OUR SPARKLING TEA PARTNERS
As a family we are always on the search for different eating and drinking experiences and like to find things that surprise us. Sparkling Tea did just that. Copenhagen Sparkling Tea is not sold widely in the UK, you will find it in Fortnum and Masons and right here in Hamilton’s Tea House. The combination of Nordic innovation and Asian tea traditions, has resulted in an organic low-/non-alcoholic sparkling drink, enjoyed in a champagne glass and really refreshing.
Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company was founded in 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark by the award-winning sommelier, Jacob Kocemba, and his business partner, Bo Sten Hansen. They still hand-brew every batch themselves, as this is a labour of love, as much as it is one of precision.
Find out more: https://sparklingtea.co/
125ml GLASS £6.95
BOTTLE £25.00
BLÅ – 0% alcohol
BLÅ starts out with delicate aromas of Jasmine, chamomile and a hint of citrus. This is followed by a round taste from the careful selection of white teas and accompanied by good complexity and depth from the green teas. It ends in a long finish joined by comfortable tannins created by the Darjeeling First Flush. The colour is light green with yellow nuances.
LYSERØD – 0% alcohol
LYSERØD is the perfect alcohol-free alternative to a rosé. It is the driest version of Sparkling Tea, yet still smooth and round in taste. You will experience intense aromas of red berries and red apples. A complex and comfortably dry taste follows, thanks to the Oolong tea, combined with hints of blackberries and hibiscus. It’s all balanced by the smooth Silver Needle white tea and finished with light bitter fruity notes. The colour is a light pink rosé.
GRØN – 5% alcohol
Sparkling Tea GRØN has clear aromas of lemongrass and citrus. The fresh characteristics are also significant in the taste, where they are joined by notes of green apples and a hint of ginger. This creates a mineral and crisp experience, which ends in a balanced bittersweet finish. The colour is light with green nuances.
RØD – 5% alcohol
The taste of RØD has immediate notes of red berries, hibiscus, blackberries and balanced citrus. This is followed by a light bitterness from the bergamot oil found in our Lady Grey and Earl Grey teas. The finish is semi-dry, which harmonizes beautifully with the initial berry notes. The colour is light pink with shades of orange.
COPENHAGEN SPARKLING TEA COCKTAILS
£7.95
G & TEA – Gin, GRØN and Angostura bitters
THE BEEKEEPERS SECRET – Gin, honey syrup and lemon juice topped with BLÅ
OUR OTHER DRINKS
A selection of soft drinks and wines to follow……
OUR TEA
There are five quality groups for tea. They are listed below in descending order of quality.
CINNAMON BUNS
£3.95
We love cinnamon buns at home, but they were always too small and never had enough icing. So, we started making our own on a Sunday morning. We made them a little bit bigger, crammed with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar, and the smell got everyone into the kitchen asking if they were ready yet. That’s where the warm icing comes in, as they wouldn’t wait for everything to cool down. The result being large, warm, iced cinnamon buns, and we are delighted to share this family favourite with you today.
BREAKFAST CRANACHAN
£3.95
Hailing from Scotland, Cranachan is known as the undisputed King of Scottish desserts, so why is it on our breakfast menu? Sweet Scottish raspberries folded into natural yoghurt and toasted Scottish oats and drizzled in honey. See, swapping out whipped cream for yoghurt turns the King of desserts into the King of breakfasts.
– you can add in a little nip of Drambuie if you want. It’s on us!
MORNING PASTRIES
From £2.50
Daily selection including croissants, citrus morning buns and lemon & raspberry Danish pastries.
From £2.50
TOASTED CRUMPETS
£2.50
2 toasted crumpets served with either butter and jam or our homemade Hog’s Back Honey butter.