When people visit the Tea House at Purple Adobe Lavender Farm, one of the first things they often notice is that everything we serve is gluten-free. What many don’t realize is that this wasn’t a trend we adopted along the way. Since the day we opened our Tea House, every pastry, dessert, and baked treat has been prepared in a kitchen that has always been gluten-free. Gluten has never been part of our baking.
That decision shaped the way we built our kitchen from the very beginning. Because gluten has never been introduced into the Tea House, we have never had to change our procedures or adapt our recipes. It has simply always been the way we do things.
Quality has always been just as important as the ingredients we leave out. We look for excellent ingredients and choose organic products whenever they are available and meet the standards we expect. Good baking begins with good ingredients, and we believe people can taste the difference.
The bakery changes with the seasons. During the year, we enjoy baking with fruits that are at their peak, whether that means peaches, apples, pears, berries, or citrus. The menu evolves naturally as the seasons change, making each visit a little different from the last.
Of course, the Tea House is about more than food. It is part of the experience of spending time at the farm. Some guests carry their tea outside to a table beneath the cottonwood trees. Others settle under the ramada with friends, while many simply enjoy the quiet view across the lavender fields. There is no schedule to keep and nowhere to hurry.
One of my favorite parts of the Tea House is watching people arrive busy and distracted, then leave a little slower than when they came. Conversations become longer, another cup of tea is poured, and the peaceful rhythm of the farm seems to take over for a while. That has always been our hope.
If your travels bring you to Abiquiú, I hope you’ll take a little time to visit the Tea House. Whether you stop in for tea and a pastry or simply sit quietly with the view, you’ll be experiencing a tradition that has been part of Purple Adobe Lavender Farm from the very beginning.