TEA TIME IN BANGKOK
Amulti-tiered platter of Western-style finger food accompanied by a pot of tea never fails to portray modern-day gastronomic sophistication. This is despite the fact that the English tipple time tradition was established more than two centuries ago.
Today tea has become an egalitarian refreshment not only reserved for upper- class households or the elderly. More and more young people and budding gastronomes are now seen comfortably clinking their tea cups, most likely during an afternoon and over some fanciful light bites.
As a result, a number of tea houses have thus crafted a line-up of new tea blends and selections of sweet and savoury treats that promise to complement the drink.
Among the most thriving tea masters of the “new world” is Singapore-based tea retailer TWG.
Founded in 2008, the brand has over the past nine years launched more than 500 blends of tea and over 30 dining outlets. Its dazzlingly-decked out tea salons are regarded by afternoon tea-ers about town as a place to be seen.
Complementing TWG exquisite tea concoctions is a creative cuisine prepared according to the brand’s exclusive recipes, which always exhibit an ingenious touch of tea.
TWG’s afternoon tea sets are also among the much-loved delicacies by diners in Bangkok.
Recently it launched a 2017 summer/rainy season afternoon tea set dubbed “Tea Gastronomy”. The set showcases a 12-item assortment of tea-leavened delicacies, in which you can enjoy not only great tasting cuisine but as many as 10 infusions of tea flavours at one go.
The high tea set (890 baht) comes with a choice of tea — hot or cold. Although the set is designed to serve one person, it’s very likely that lady customers enjoy sharing the set.
Of it you’ll find seven canapés, namely Earl Grey-smoked salmon wrapped sandwich with avocado and prawn roe filling and berry tea-infused cream cheese; pan-seared foie gras with caramel tea-seethed grape chutney on French baguette and poached prawn with fruit black tea-infused spicy tomato salsa.
Other items include smoked duck on Brie cheese and vine tomato with tea-infused pesto; marinated, black nectar-tea-infused bay prawn with winter green salad; spiced tea-infused teriyaki chicken skewer and toasted yellowfin tuna sandwich infused with night-blooming jasmine tea.
The sweet selection is represented by black tea-infused red velvet cake with white chocolate and praline crisp; panna cotta with raspberry coulis; white chocolate soft cake with citrus/green tea-infused orange purée; pyramid of chocolate tea-infused mousse; and tea-inspired macarons.
Just like its subtle-tasting tea blends, TWG’s food, too, nicely exhibits a subtlety of flavours. A few à la carte light bites are also available. Truly worth complementing your choice of tea are the mini burger trio (490 baht) and lobster timbale (490 baht). Prices are inclusive of a pot of tea.
The first exhibited an assortment of houseground wagyu burger on a miniature charcoal bun, a barbecued chicken sandwich on burger bun and a veggie burger on matcha green tea bun. While the latter featured poached marinated lobster meat with herbs, avocado and fresh baby spinach leaves in crispy Parmesan cups drizzled with tea-infused vinaigrette.
The Tea Gastronomy Set is available at TWG Salon and Boutique, Siam Paragon. Call 02-259-9510 for more details.