High Tea at Onnink’s

11/30/2015

Tea time at Onnink's!

By Ruby Jaggernath,

My friend from Vernon was coming for a visit so I decided to provide a real treat for her - and treat it was, for both of us.

Where? Well, last summer my son came from Penticton for a visit. I told them about the organic blueberries at Onninks, how they use Falcons instead of cannon to control birds, how they use manually distributed nematodes instead of chemicals to control insect pests. Of course they went to check out the blueberries right away, and brought back a box of them which we immediately proceeded to consume.

As we enjoyed ourselves, Lawrence said the clerk talked about high tea now being offered at Onnink’s on the coming Saturday. Well, guess what, we decided to attend. When we arrived, we learned that we have to reserve ahead of time. However, Arina Onnink graciously offered us a sample her food and service. We sat at an umbrella-protected table in the sunshine and enjoyed family conversation, a chat with Arina herself and tiny exquisite cups of blueberry flavoured tea and coffee.

I complained that I would be away for the rest of the summer so could not have High Tea there again. “Oh, yes you can,” she told me. “We do it at the house in winter.”

So I reserved a table for two in November and Joanne and I were royally treated in their lovely, tiny tea room. Marie served tea and coffee. Our cups were never empty. She served tiny perfect sandwiches on a four-plate tier and when we were stuffed, she served us a tier of superb sweets.

This is a perfect place to take a women’s club or to treat a friend to something special. But I must make one caution - Arina also makes superb jewelry, some of which is on display in her tea room and she is quite willing to show you the rest in a private showroom. Joanne is quite delighted with the High Tea experience, but, I believe, even more delighted with the necklace she purchased there.

What a lovely experience!