If you’re looking for the best afternoon tea experience in North Carolina, you have to be willing to consider all the options and not just the usual suspects. So what about an afternoon holiday tea across the street from one of Durham’s renowned downtown landmarks? Yes,The Parlour is first and foremost an ice cream shop, but for the holidays, this Durham favorite is also featuring a special afternoon tea experience.

Afternoon tea at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is always a special occasion – and especially during the winter holidays. The entire historic inn is decked out with festive holiday decorations, and the traditional afternoon tea is replaced by a holiday-themed afternoon tea. So, with a great deal of excitement, my friend and I booked a special holiday tea at the Carolina Inn to soak in the Christmas spirit.

We arrive...

Everyone has something special they love about Christmas and the holiday season. Magical memories are the culmination of many things using all the senses. Here at Mad Hatter, we know all about how to create memories and our Holiday Loose Leaf Tea has been blended with your future memories in mind.

From the moment the kettle boils and the sound of boiling water fills your ears, you are relaxed and yet excited to taste this treat of a tea. ...

Labor Day is long gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the delicious fruits of summer. Our new tea here at the Mad Hatter celebrates summer because it’s all about the fruity taste of guava.

Have You Tried Guava Tea Yet?

This is no herbal tea- the base is black tea, which is combined with papaya pieces, blackberry and lime leaves, safflower petals, an...

If you’ve been pining for a real European-style afternoon tea service in North Carolina, then you absolutely have to head to the Fearrington House in Chapel Hill. You may already know about the Fearrington House’s luxurious, serene, and peaceful atmosphere. But you may not know that the Fearrington House Restaurant also offers an Afternoon Tea service by reservation only.

First of all, the pastries and ...

Mad Hatter, Now Selling Blue Suede Shoes

In Rockabilly lore and in the South, blue suede shoes symbolize something that’s new, exciting, special, and different. Elvis Presley sang a song about them, and we’ve named a tea after them.

Something Special, New, Different, and Exciting

That was Elvis alright, bringing a ne...

As you know, the local version of The Mad Hatter came to an end this past July. It was the final chapter of the physical shop but by no means the end of the Mad Hatter shop. We’re continuing online and we’ll still be in town for special tea parties and other fun events.

But we couldn’t let the shop go out without a final send-off, so we decided to go literally mad for a day and just give it all away. Literally, we opened...

This week marks the end of the Mad Hatter storefront in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. And while we’ll miss our cozy little downtown spot, we’re truly excited about the next phase: a 24/7 e-commerce storefront where we can spotlight our products to the world.

Come With Us, Fuquay-Varina!

So we’re not thinking of this as an end. We’re not even leaving Fuquay-Varina behi...

One of the best ways to enjoy a leisurely afternoon is by treating yourself to a good cup of tea. If you’ve been lucky enough to sample high-quality teas from around the world, you know the distinct pleasures of a good Earl Grey.

We’ve added two new tea blends to our tea lineup here in the shop. Both are variations on Earl Grey.

Two New Earl Grey Teas at the Mad Hatter

Preakness Season is here. The annual Spring racing fashion event is May 20. Ladies, if you’re heading up to Baltimore to attend the races, it’s time to start thinking about your wardrobes.

And of course, the most important part of your look is your hat.

But just like the other horse racing events this Spring and Summer, you can’t wear just any old hat. There’s an unwritten &#...