It is no secret that I am not a natural-born tea lover. Unlike my sister. But, when provided the chance to enjoy a proper English-style tea with loved ones while on vacation, how do you say no?

And so dine we did.

The tea shop – barely larger than an English estate’s parlor – sported decor befitting just such a parlor of an eccentric nanny. On steroids.

Flowery wallpaper. Trinkets hung, strung, and flung all about. Tea cozies as far as the eye could see. You couldn’t help but laugh – and love – it all.

Somehow, sadly, I failed to get a decent photo of said decor (though up until 30 minutes ago when I uploaded these photos, I would have sworn that I did!). I was either (a) too taken with the place; (b) too distracted with the place; or (c) too confused by tea cozies (a thing I have encountered in literature but never in real life).

Maybe all of the above.

My aunt, who accompanied us on this high tea extravaganza, told us that the Russian way of drinking tea is to take a sugar cube, dunk it in the piping hot tea, and pop the tea-drenched cube into your mouth. Our dedushka (the Russian word for grandfather) was a big time fan of this method. And who wouldn’t be?

I for one, the ever-hesitant tea drinker, reformed my outlook on the beverage after learning this Russian way.

Our dedushka knew where it was at.

Yes, that is my blurry hand imposing on this action shot.

Yes, I apparently have no control over my limbs.

Yes, I have long been someone whose hands will fly out of nowhere and smack into walls, poles, doorjambs with absolutely no notice or approval from my brain.

Yes, this is concerning.

The final offering: scones, jam, clotted cream, Earl Grey tea, flowery dishware.

After this experience, I may be a converted high tea-haver. It was exquisite, deceptively filling and educational.

Because really, when else will you ever have the opportunity to discuss the culinary properties of clotted cream?