Musicals, classic children’s stories, and global flavours are among the influences taking hold as the nation celebrates Afternoon Tea Week 2022.
Taking place from Monday 8 to Sunday 14 August, the week sees venues from bakeries and cafés to five-star hotels embrace the occasion. There are limited edition afternoon teas, new flavours and more on offer.
Here, we look at what venues across the UK are serving up this Afternoon Tea Week:
Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea, The Franklin, London
Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, The Franklin hotel has whipped up a modern-day twist on the tea selection that may have greeted the storyline’s star character when she tumbled down the rabbit hole.
Savoury options include a smoked ham & oak smoked cheddar sandwich with grain mustard, a fluffy bun filled with crab meat, soya mayo, avocado, cucumber and lime, and a soft pitta packed with beetroot, burrata and bresaola.
On the sweet side is a heart-shaped red velvet sponge, filled with vanilla buttercream and raspberry compote, topped with a chocolate disc and a gold chocolate crown – fit for any Queen of Hearts.
The brownie hat comprises a chocolate top hat containing pecan sablé, kataifi pastry, brownie sponge and soft pecan cream with an icing playing card, while the carrot caramel cupcake is pumped with orange sablé, caramel mousse and meringue all decorated with a white rabbit and caterpillar.
Plain and blueberry scones, one decorated to resemble a mushroom, also feature too. They’re served with clotted cream, blueberry compote and strawberry jam.
Price: £50 per person
Wicked afternoon tea, The Clermont, Victoria
As the official hotel partner of West End musical Wicked, it is not surprising The Clermont hotel’s spread is themed on the hit show. Decadent green sweet treats abound on the menu – think chocolate & pistachio bombes, lime cheesecake and lemon meringue pie. You’ll also find traditional homemade scones with jam and clotted cream and delicate smoked salmon and cream cheese finger sandwiches.
Price: £35 per person
Jasmine Indian Afternoon Tea, Taj 51 Hotel, Buckingham Gate
For an exotic take on the British pastime, try out Taj 51’s themed Jasmine Indian Afternoon Tea for Two.
Indian savouries include a curried egg mayo pinwheel sandwich, traditional chicken tikka pantheras and fish masala choux rolls.
Sweet bakes and pastries range from pistachio-crusted fruit tarts, saffron rice pudding, a shot of salty sweet caramel lassi and Gulabi scones topped with mango compote and cinnamon clotted cream.
Price: £102 for two
Transatlantic afternoon tea, The Beaumont, Mayfair
Another hotel borrowing inspiration from overseas is The Beaumont. Its afternoon tea menu showcases executive chef Ben Boeynaems’s transatlantic twist on British sandwiches and treats with delicate sandwiches, including devilled egg mayonnaise, oak smoked lox, chicken Caesar and cucumber with cream cheese & dill seed. The savouries are served on soft bread prepared by the Beaumont’s in-house baker.
For afters, guests have a choice of freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, alongside a selection of indulgent new cakes such as New York blackout (a miniature take on the famous Brooklyn chocolate cake filled with chocolate pudding custard and topped with chocolate cake crumbs), strawberry vanilla cheesecake, almond & apricot choux and a nutty ‘Snickers’ macaroon.
The vegan afternoon tea menu has also been updated to include new sandwiches such as devilled tofu mayonnaise, oak-smoked carrot lox, tofu Caesar, and cucumber with vegan cream cheese.
Price: £52 per person
Kitty afternoon tea, Kitty Café, Birmingham, Leeds or Nottingham
Kitty Café, a rescue and care facility for cats, is embracing afternoon tea week within its café locations. Guests can enjoy a selection of sandwiches with assorted fillings, Devonshire scones with clotted cream and jam, as well as miniature cakes and desserts. They will also have the chance to spend time with the resident cats and kittens who have been rehomed there. Purrrfect.
Price: £35 for two
Traditional afternoon tea, The White Lion Hotel, Aldeburgh
This seafront hotel is offering both traditional cream and a full afternoon tea in its Brasserie restaurant.
The main experience starts with a selection of delicate finger sandwiches and savouries such as a roasted pepper, courgette & avocado wrap, followed by plain or fruit scones topped with clotted cream and strawberry and Pimm’s jam. Homemade cakes, biscuits, and sweet treats include a banana éclair and gooseberry jelly and elderflower cream.
Price: Afternoon Tea £18.50 per person / Cream Tea £7.50 per person
No comments yet