Just your cup of tea?
In the South, the most popular recipe calls for sweetened black tea to be poured over ice and served with sliced lemon in crystal glassware or handled jars.
At the Charleston Tea Plantation in South Carolina, travellers can learn first-hand how tea is grown, harvested and enjoyed. Established in 1963 on Wadmalaw Island
(half an hour’s drive southwest of Charleston), the Charleston Tea Plantation has a prime environment for growing black and green tea and is the USA’s only tea plantation. Much like the picturesque city of Charleston, the plantation is a treat for the eyes; pathways are shaded by archways formed by centuries-old oak trees, with verdant fields as far as the eye can see.
While here, visitors can take a trolley ride around the 51-hectare farm to see more than 320 varieties of plants used to make tea. A complimentary factory tour teaches visitors about the differences in production of green, black and oolong teas, with tastings.
visittheusa.co.uk HIGHER GROUND Abu Dhabi, UAE
TRAVELLERS to Abu Dhabi can sip the finest teas whilst taking in the 360-degree views over the
UAE capital from the city’s highest restaurant, the Observation Deck at 300.
Located on the 74th floor, within the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel, the Observation Deck is more sophisticated than its name suggests, serving delightful afternoon teas with optional sparkling wine to hotel guests and visitors alike. The tea menu comes courtesy of luxury brand TWG Tea, featuring artisanal teas such as Crème Caramel Tea, a sweet and smooth fusion, and Silver Moon Tea, accented with a vanilla and berry bouquet.
The backdrop is pretty special too, with views right across the Corniche beach, Downtown Abu Dhabi and the Arabian Gulf.
visitabudhabi.ae SUNNY AFTERNOON, ST REGIS DOHA, QATAR
THE five-star St Regis Doha is located in the heart of West Bay in Qatar’s capital city, adjacent to the Pearl Island, and offers sweeping views overlooking the Persian Gulf. The hotel features 12 destination restaurants and lounges including Opal by Gordon Ramsay, Hakkasan, the Vintage Lounge and Astor Grill, as well as a spectacular rooftop bar and Sarab, an excellent spot for a light snack or a delectable cup of afternoon tea from a worldcollection of over 100 blends.
As the winner of the “Best
Afternoon Tea” at the Time Out Doha Restaurant Awards 2018, Sarab’s Afternoon Tea menu offers a vast selection of teas, infusions, coffees, cocktails, and champagnes that recalls the vision that Lady Astor inaugurated at Club 400 (now The St. Regis New York), when she would invite her grand friends to tea.
And as the sun begins to set, another splendid Astor family tradition is carried out; the champagne sabering ritual, which signals the start of the evening.
visitqatar.qa PUNCH DRUNK, Nashville, Tennessee
VISITORS to Nashville will find ‘fruit tea’ – or ‘fruit punch’ or ‘tea punch,’ as it’s also known – on menus across the city, from biscuit houses to barbecue joints, and from bagel shops to burrito restaurants.
It’s a concoction of brewed sweet tea with orange juice, lemon, and sometimes other fruit juices, served in everything from crystal glasses to plastic cups, and seasoned with cinnamon, sprigs of mint, or slices of lemon.
Nashville’s fondness for fruit tea dates back to the 1970s when it was enjoyed by ladies who lunch and has since made its way to the masses. Local state legend Daisy King opened Miss Daisy’s Tearoom (now Kitchen) in Franklin, just south of Nashville, in 1974 and served her first customers Tea
Punch sweetened with pineapple juice which remains on her menu