Emma's Tea Spot

Emma's Tea Spot is at 4337 Harford Road in the Hamilton neighbourhood, in the north-east of the city, and it is a British-style tea room before it is a shop: the counter sells the tea it pours. The loose leaf is Rishi organic tea, twenty-two kinds, weighed out from one ounce to ten at $3.95 the ounce, in store and through the website, and the same wall carries the British teabag brands a homesick reader will recognise, PG Tips, Yorkshire Tea from Taylors of Harrogate, Barry's and London Cuppa, next to sachet tea at $12.50.

Because the price never moves, the Rishi list reads as a plain menu: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Masala Chai, Jasmine, Moroccan Mint, a White Peony and a Rooibos are all $3.95 the ounce, and the first ounce is the sensible order for any of them. Around the tea there is a small herbal and botanical line in 100 g and 4 oz packs, Zeke's Coffee from a Baltimore roaster including a house blend called Emma's Proper Cup, British sweets, preserves, sauces and local honey, and a Brit Box of British groceries for people who want the pantry rather than the pot.

The room opens Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm and closes Monday and Tuesday. Its High Tea To Go box packs tea sandwiches and sweets for $37, with customised versions from $42, which is how most of the neighbourhood meets the place. The events page lists First Friday karaoke nights under the name Communi-tea and the occasional workshop, and the shop has its own rewards app. At the time of writing the announcement bar also links a fundraising campaign for the business, which is worth knowing before a first visit.