The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., is approaching. One of the largest celebrations of the iconic cherry blossom trees in the U.S., the festival is just over a week away and often draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Cherry blossom season is arguably the most beautiful time to be in Washington, DC—even though peak bloom is fleeting, and can last just a few days. Still, each spring, the city goes all out. One way to celebrate the short-lived blooms is to indulge in a long afternoon tea.