TEA FOR TWO, TWO FOR TEA
Tea Jubilee @ Ratchaprasong is a month-long celebration of afternoon delights
U ntil April 30, afternoon tea aficionados in Bangkok are spoiled for choice thanks to “Tea Jubilee @ Ratchaprasong”.
As a part of the high-end shopping district’s annual gastronomic festival, Ratchaprasong is made a culinary destination as eight tea rooms at five-star hotels and luxury plazas join hands to offer various high tea experiences at discounted prices.
Participating establishments are, Anantara Siam Bangkok, Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, InterContinental Bangkok, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong, The St. Regis Bangkok, 1823 Tea Lounge by Ronnefeldt and Twinings Tea Boutique.
The festival, under the concept of a summer tea party, is designed to provide taste-bud pleasing refreshments during the sweaty season through refined concoctions of teas and varieties of tasty light bites. During the month-long event, each tea room offers an elaborately-presented afternoon tea set crafted by their own pastry chefs and tea masters with inspirations drawn from different cultures.
The Anantara Siam Bangkok (02-126-8866) boasts a selection of bite-sized delicacies complemented by exclusive tea blends, which are inspired by Thailand’s world-famous heritage such as the Temple of Dawn, Golden Triangle and white elephant. The tea is served in the hotel lobby with Italian mini gourmet pizza, French dessert Mont Blanc and French pastry raspberry canelé.
Zing Bakery at Centara Grand@CentralWorld (02-1006255) offers a scrumptious repertoire of French pastries with fine teas from TWG. Of it, Smoky Earl Grey, an aromatic black tea with a hint of bergamot, is designed to complement the foie gras terrine, tuna tartare and smoked salmon. While desserts such as chocolate éclair, hazelnut Paris brest, vanilla mille-feuille and macarons with various flavoured fillings are paired with Eternal Summer, a refreshing red tea.
The Erawan Tea Room in the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok (02-254-6250) highlights Thailand’s culinary heritage in its high tea offering. A perfect marriage of local and Western tea cultures, the set features a choice of Thai herbal teas, which provide cooling properties for the body, alongside snacks traditionally served in the Thai royal court. Highlights are steamed crabmeat dumplings, rice crackers with minced prawn and pork with a peanut dipping sauce, mango sticky rice and Thai crepes.
The InterContinental Bangkok 02-656-0444) takes the tea culture of Morocco to the max. Themed as an Easter Afternoon Tea, the high tea experience celebrates the upcoming Easter season. The two special blends featured are Moroccan Tea, characterised by the mild and soothing aroma of mint, and the Grand Wedding Tea, which blends sunflowers with exotic fruits for a sweet and fruity aroma. They are served with signature baked marble cheesecake, Belgian chocolate truffles and blueberry scones.
R Bar at Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong (02-1255105) highlights a high tea infused with rose and French vanilla tea. The tea is served with a selection of finger food such as smoked salmon, crabstick sandwich, whole wheat bread with minced bread duck spread, chocolate truffle and mango mousse.
The St. Regis Bangkok (02-207-7777) allows guests to take pleasure in a variety of teas while enjoying a beautiful view of the city from its Sky Lounge. The hotel serves up TWG blends, such as 1837 Black, Vanilla Bourbon and Silver Moon, offered in Thai or Western styled cuisine. Highlighted treats include fresh and healthy mieng kham, crispy krathong thong with tuna filling, raisin scones with clotted cream and berry jam, chocolate mousse and mango tart.
Europe’s tea excellence can be experienced at the world’s first 1823 Tea Lounge by Ronnefeldt at Gaysorn Village (02-656-1086). A summer tea set “Voilà l’Été!” is especially created with a tantalising assortment comprising of crab croquettes with apple and capsicum caviar sauce, cucumber sandwich with cream cheese pesto, strawberry and shrimp gazpacho and smoked salmon with a special sauce with kombu and caviar topping. Desserts range from scones served with strawberry jam and original clotted cream, succulent fruit jelly, mango and sticky rice verrine, and coconut pudding through to fresh mango topped with jasmine tea foam served in a chic glass, salted caramel cream puffs, special passion fruit jelly and signature sweet summer macarons.
Last but not least, Twinings Tea Boutique (02-613-1230) at CentralWorld offers an aromatic unification between fine Chinese tea and old English tradition through two special blends of summer-inspired iced teas. Twinings Tea Boutique’s afternoon tea set highlights fine green tea from China and English classic pastries. Thai herbal teas with royal-styled Thai summer snacks at Erawan Tea Room of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.
Young leaves of fine tea from China’s famous green tea region are mildly steamed to retain their characteristic aroma and then mixed with mango and young ginger. The mixture is blended with Twinings’ exceptional expertise to produce a green tea which has a sweet and fruity aroma and the refreshing sensation of ginger. Berry Blush is a caffeine-free herbal drink. With more than 23 years of herbal expertise, Twinings’ master blenders combine sweet and sour tastes of blueberry, raspberry and blackcurrant with flowers. Complementing the tea are raspberry cheesecake, orange yoghurt mousse and strawberry mousse.
The Tea Jubilee @ Ratchaprasong runs until April 30. Prices are from 600 baht per set to 1,589 baht for two.