The Tiptree tea room, museum and jam shop are next to the Tiptree Jam Factory where the Wilkin family have been making fine preserves with fruit from their farm since 1885.
The original Tiptree museum was opened in 1985 in a building that now is part of the factory which held a small number of artefacts. The newer museum, also known as the John Wilkin Collection, was built in 1995, where the Tiptree Museum still resides to this day. This collection that is displayed in one of the adjacent buildings to the original which gives visitors an opportunity to see traditional jam making equipment: the cherry stoner, marmalade peel cutter and even a deep boiling pan with a paddle to stir the jam.
The current home of the Tiptree Tea Room has undergone various transformations throughout its history. Originally serving as a tractor shed, it later evolved into a retail Jam Shop with a small museum section in 1990, before ultimately opening its doors to the public as a popular destination.
The original shop was converted into a tea room which has continued to expand to meet demand and a smart new timber-clad shop was created offering a wider selection of goods. In the summer the Secret Garden and marquee are open to visitors who can enjoy afternoon teas and lunch in the shelter of the walled garden.
Shopping is often an attraction for visitors who can buy most of the Tiptree products, gifts, cards, alcohol and soft toys in the Jam Shop; the knowledgeable staff will be pleased to talk about the range of products.