Afternoon Tea and Popovers at New England's Historic Jordan Pond House

Posted by Michelle Leising on Aug 07, 2023

Afternoon Tea and Popovers at Jordan Pond House

Jordan Pond House

My sister and her family recently had the pleasure of taking tea at Jordan Pond House, located in Acadia National Park in Maine. Jordan Pond House is a historic restaurant known for its iconic tea and popovers. This charming establishment has been serving visitors since the late 1800s and continues to be a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

The History of Afternoon Tea at Jordan Pond House

My sister had heard of this afternoon tea tradition and decided this was a definite stop during their family summer vacation to New England. It was was one of the highlights of their trip! Tea was served in the beautiful garden overlooking Jordan Pond, among the matching forest green umbrellas and wooden benches. She agreed that this delightful ritual is a must-do for any tea enthusiast.

The tea menu at Jordan Pond House offers a wide selection of teas, ranging from classic black teas to herbal infusions including a specialty Pond House Blend. Each cup is brewed to perfection and served in the traditional two pot English style so guests to savor the flavors and relax in the serene surroundings.

The Famous Popovers

Served alongside freshly brewed hot tea, Jordan Pond House is renowned for its delicious popovers. These light and airy pastries are a true delight and have become a signature item on the menu.

The recipe for Jordan Pond House popovers, which were first served around 1895 by Nellie McIntire, has been a closely guarded secret for decades. The popovers are served warm, accompanied by butter and locally made Maine strawberry jam or Blueberry Jam (upon request). The combination of the crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior of the freshly baked popover is simply irresistible.

A Specialty Tea Time Tray

In addition to hot tea and popovers, Jordan Pond House also offers a tea tray of specialty cucumber tea sandwiches, freshly baked berry scones, smoked salmon canapes and seasonal fruit and pastries for two or four people.

Exploring the Surroundings

After indulging in afternoon tea and popovers, my sister and her family explored the beautiful surroundings offered at the park. It has hiking trails, scenic drives, and breathtaking views of Mount Desert Island. They just happened to visit during blueberry season at the park. Blueberries grow wild in the park from late July to mid-September and visitors are allowed to eat as many as they want from the bushes and take home up to 1 half gallon of blueberries per person each day.

As if that wasn't enough, they were able to take advantage of a popular park hike - the sunrise hike on Cadillac Mountain which reaches 1,530 feet and is officially the first place in the United States to see sunrise between October 7th and March 6th.

The natural beauty of Acadia National Park left them in awe - no wonder it is the 2nd most visited National Park in the United States!

Enjoying Afternoon Tea and Popovers combined with natural charm and beauty of the park made this a highlight of their summer family getaway. Inspired by their visit, I have definitely added a visit to Jordan Pond House and Acadia National Park to my "bucket list"! I hope you have you been inspired, too!

Warm Tea Wishes,

Michelle

RESOURCE LIST:

Host your own afternoon tea and popover party! We provided some product links to help you get started. There is even a wonderful book sharing the story of the Jordan family - the namesake of Jordan Pond House. Wouldn't this be wonderful for the book club to enjoy while nibbling popovers and sipping tea?

(Some of these items contain affiliate links which means if you click on the link and buy something, I may receive a very small commission. It does NOT cost you anything extra)