A Tea Affair To Remember
The song from the 1935 comedy film Come out of the Pantry is about the British obsession of having tea in the middle of the afternoon. A custom that became popular in the 1840s. The credit for it is given to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, who used to suffer from ‘hunger pangs’ due to the long gap between lunch and dinner. She decided to have tea along with some bread, butter and cake and started inviting friends over. The trend soon caught up, and by the 1920s, it was the rage among the fashionable crowd.
Unfortunately, no one really has the time for this lovely ritual any more. But if you were a fan of Enid Blyton books while growing up, you must have read all about how important and mouth-wateringly delicious an afternoon tea is supposed to be. There are several hotels across the globe that are recreating the experience. So if you in one of these cities, do try our pick of afternoon teas.
The Ritz, London
Having afternoon tea at The Ritz in London is so iconic, it should be on your bucket list. Reminiscent of an era gone by, the afternoon tea at The Ritz is served at the magnificent Palm Court with its high walls of gleaming mirrors, beautiful chandeliers and flower arrangements. Tea is served, the way it should be, in porcelain cups from a silver tea pot. A pianist and a harpist play classical music in the background and the whole setting is very grand. Little wonder, there is a dress code. You cannot possibly turn up for a ceremony this splendid in jeans or sportswear. Gentlemen need to wear a jacket and tie, and while there is no specific dress code for women, they are expected to be in smart casuals.
On the menu are 18 different types of tea handpicked by The Ritz’s tea sommelier. These include Indian, Sri Lankan and Chinese teas. But if you are the kind who would like to turn up for a tea ceremony and drink coffee instead, The Ritz will oblige. The highlight of the afternoon tea is of course, all the delicious food that accompanies it including a variety of finely cut sandwiches and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
For an additional amount you can even have a glass of Champagne with your tea.
Price: £54 per person
Belmond Grand Hotel, St. Petersburg
The Russians may not love their tea as much as their vodka, but they do drink pots full of it daily. The first record of tea in Russia dates back to 1638, when Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich got several pods of tea leaves as a present from a Russian ambassador. Legend has it that tea helped him stay awake during long church services. The very British concept of afternoon tea was introduced to the Russian Imperial Court in 1909 when Tzar Nicholas II visited his uncle King Edward VII of England. Once the Russian royal family adopted the afternoon ritual, it soon became popular in the Russian aristocracy.
If you want a taste of it, try the afternoon tea service available from 2pm to 6pm at the Mezzanine Café of the hotel. A Russian-style paunchy porcelain teapot emblazoned with a cockscomb adds character to the table that is laden with assorted mini sandwiches including trout, caviar and salami. Dessert plates include pastries such as Russian vatrushkas.
Price: $52 per couple
Hotel Café Royal, London
Considering afternoon tea is a British tradition we decided to include two hotels from London. What makes the afternoon tea at Hotel Café Royal different is its collaboration with French perfumer, diptyque. The hotel has created an afternoon tea inspired by a selection of the French brand’s most popular scents — roses, vanilla, violette and verveine. So along with the usual fare that includes a selection of 30 teas and various sweet and savoury items, you get four extra desserts each inspired by a fragrance. The tea is served at the historic Oscar Wilde Bar, where Oscar Wilde himself dined regularly. It was recently awarded the title of the ‘Best Traditional Afternoon Tea’ at the UK Afternoon Tea Awards. Each guest also gets to take back a diptyque fragrant candle.
Price: £60 per person
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is offering a specially crafted French afternoon tea brimming with Asian flavours from 1 September to 31 October in collaboration with international jeweler Qeelin. As part of the collaboration, the tea is housed in a gourd-shaped tea set stand referencing the jeweller’s signature Wulu Collection (Chinese symbol for blessing and positive energy).
On offer are dishes such as chocoron, a take on the traditional French macron, where the classic dish is filled with raspberry confit and has a chocolate coating; a mango ginger tarte that has a chocolate panda Bo Bo, a precious symbol from the Qeelin collection that is full of Asian character, to cut the tanginess of the ginger through the sweetness of the mango; among others.
Price: HK$ 388 per person
JW Marriott Phu Quoc, Vietnam
If there is one tea party most of us are familiar with, it is the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland. At the Chanterelle Spa by JW at the JW Marriott on the beautiful island of Phu Quoc in Vietnam, the hotel tries to recreate the excitement with its afternoon tea. Created by celebrated architect Bill Bensley, the whole experience starts the minute you step into the spa — inspired by Alice in Wonderland — that has asymmetric curved corridors referencing the rabbit hole. At the VIP room, you are welcomed by the Mad Hatter himself and every time the ticking clock strikes 12, a variety of Alice-inspired sweets and savoury are served. The tea is accompanied with a 60-minute afternoon spa session.
Price: $100 per person
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
We all know that there is no place like the spa to de-stress. Add to it a cup of tea, which according to the Brits is the remedy to all problems, and you have a match made in heaven. The Mandarin Oriental Singapore has entered into a collaboration with London-based Aromatherapy Associates, a luxury skincare brand, to do just that. The limited edition Afternoon Tea available till 29 October serves sweets and savouries that feature distinctive ingredients from the Aromatherapy Associates de-stress collection. Plant elements such as lavender and chamomile, known for their soothing qualities are incorporated into the menu along with coconut.
You can book the de-stress treatment at the spa and get the five-course afternoon tea complimentary or you can just go for the tea.
Price: SGD 42 per person (for tea); SGD 380 for spa treatment+tea
