For Jaqueline Soley, owner of Jaqueline’s Tea Room in Freeport, tea has become her life– an unlikely career choice, but one that has worked out great, she says.

Soley, the mother of three, has been hosting afternoon teas at her Main Street shop/eatery and serving fresh, from-scratch lunches to wedding parties, tourists and locals for the past eight years. In addition, Soley hosts free monthly tea tastings for people who are interested in tea but afraid to buy something they may not like.

According to Soley, afternoon tea is served Tuesday through Saturday, with two seating’s each day at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. by reservation only. For those without reservations, Soley offers a daily “Cream Tea,” featuring two different flavors of warm scones, with Devon cream, lemon curd and jam, and one three-cup pot of tea.

Tea has been historically promoted for having a variety of positive health benefits. Recent human studies suggest that green tea may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer, promote oral health, reduce blood pressure, help with weight control, improve antibacterial and antivirasic activity and provide protection from solar ultraviolet light. Soley recently took a few moments to sit down with the Tri-Town Weekly to discuss different types of tea, the difference between high and low tea, and also why men should not be afraid of tearooms.

Q: So what sparked your interest in tea?

A: Before I started this, I was a stay-at-home mom. I went to a tea room with my daughter, who was 6 at the time, and three other generations of my family. I loved it and thought it would be great to open my own tearoom. From then on out whenever we traveled around we went to tearooms.

Q: What is a tearoom?

A: I operate what is called a British tearoom, not a teahouse, which is more like a restaurant. British tearooms traditionally offer an afternoon tea, which includes small sandwiches, scones and pastries. I offer a four-course meal with my afternoon tea. Everything is made from scratch, but the Devon cream and lemon curd is imported from England. The afternoon teas typically last two hours, it’s a very leisurely affair. It’s a great way to catch up with family and friends. I do a lot of bridal showers, but men are encouraged to come. Sometimes men will have hamburger before they get here and can’t finish the meal. It’s a lot of food.

Q: Most people associate tearooms with high tea, correct?

A: Most people walk in and say, “Oh we’re having high tea,” which is wrong. High tea is what the British had after they got done with work. They literally sat at a high table. It’s mostly the fault of hotels who advertise high tea.

Q: Recent studies have suggested that tea is becoming more popular here in America. Any idea why?

A: Well, tea has been around forever, probably longer than coffee. Most of the world drinks tea. Like all things, the popularity of tea in America is cyclical. The Freeport Historical Society has documented many tea rooms in the area, so they come and go.

Q: Why would you recommend tea over coffee?

A: Tea is a green-leaf vegetable and has many health benefits. You can have as many polyphenols in a cup of tea as you do in a cup of vegetables. Tea is high in anti-oxidants and lower in caffeine. The caffeine is dispersed differently throughout the body from tea, it’s not a jolt like coffee.

Q: Where do you get your tea from?

A: I have a purveyor from India who goes and picks my tea. I buy directly from him, which cuts out the middle man. I blend a lot of my teas, which are obviously all loose leaf. So you won’t find this at the grocery store. I feel I have the finest teas in the world. I have black teas, white teas that are lower in caffeine, and oolong tea. All tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. I also sell tisanes, which are not really teas but a combination of fruits, nuts and spices. Rooibos, which means red bush, is an extremely good tea from South Africa that is great for your stomach. Tea is like wine in a way, as it can vary from flavor or style depending on the geographic location where it’s grown, even from the same grape.

Q: What’s the shelf life on tea?

A: It’s around three years as opposed to coffee, which is only a few months.

Q: What is your favorite tea?

A: That’s a hard question to answer, almost like picking your favorite child. I mix it up quite a bit depending on the food I’m eating or the mood I’m in.

“I feel I have the finest teas in the world,” says Jaqueline Soley, owner of Jaqueline’s Tea Room in Freeport.