Afternoon Tea News.....Afternoon Tea at Chai Wu, Harrods

Hello there,

Welcome back to Tea With Me and Friends.

Today we're back with some news on a new afternoon tea that launched last month in the contemporary Chinese restaurant Chai Wu, on the fifth floor of Harrods in Knightsbridge. This afternoon tea adventure embraces the rich history of Chinese tea and indulges guests with a feast of refined cuisine, presenting an exciting alternative to London’s traditional afternoon tea menus.

Chai Wu - Harrods, Knightsbridge

Chinese tea has a cultural and historic legacy spanning thousands of years, yet with its many medicinal and relaxing properties it remains a tonic to the stresses of modern life. Chai Wu’s afternoon tea menu features six Chinese fine teas, such as Chrysanthemum Flower Tea and Ali Shan High Mountain Tea, an Oolong tea slow grown at altitudes of up to 1400m which produces a sweet flavour. A selection of premium teas from the Harrods Own range are also available, including the 1849 Blend, created to celebrate Harrods’ 150th anniversary, and Harrods Bari, planted for Harrods at the turn of the millennium in the hills of Darjeeling.

Afternoon tea - Chai Wu, Harrods - Knightsbridge

Chai Wu’s Head Chef Tong Fatt Kok has created an enticing menu of contemporary Chinese treats incorporating speciality and luxury ingredients. The gastronomic journey will begin with a palate-cleansing baby spinach soup, followed by the arrival of a stunning two-tier stand brimming with savoury morsels. This includes a selection of mouth-watering chopped salads with combinations of fresh ingredients such as; scallop, king crab, avocado with spicy mayo and grilled Shitake mushroom with kampyo, asparagus, avocado and yuzu dressing. Kaya Toast, with a caramel jam filling, is playfully presented as a finger sandwich; a nod to the quintessentially British afternoon tea tradition. Chai Wu is renowned for its expertly made dim sum, featured dishes include; Wagyu beef puff topped with gold leaf; lobster wonton, prawn dumpling with caviar and chicken steamed and fried gyoza.

Savoury afternoon tea treats - Chai Wu, Harrods

Savoury afternoon tea - Chai Wu, Harrods

The first of the sweet courses is Chendol, a hugely popular traditional dessert, where silky liquid layers of plum sugar, red bean paste and coconut milk suspend cubes of jelly and vibrant green rice flour jelly noodles. Finally, a platter of exquisite desserts include green tea cheesecake, mango mousse and a coconut and brown sugar filled pandan pancake roll.

Sweet afternoon tea treats - Chai Wu, Harrods

If you are looking for something a little bit different for your next afternoon tea adventure this certainly looks like a wonderful feast. The afternoon tea is available daily between 2pm - 6pm and starts at £59 per person. For more information pop by the Chai Wu website.

Thank you for popping by today,

Rachel & Lorna

Time for....A Guest Post....Urban Retreat Lounge, Harrods

Hello there,

Welcome back to Tea With Me and Friends - we hope you're well today!

This post we are joined by the lovely Melissa, who is sharing her recent afternoon tea adventure at the Urban Retreat Cafe at Harrods. The cafe is on the 5th floor of Harrods and is part of the Urban Retreat salon and spa. Melissa was enjoying her afternoon tea before heading off to see the Mariah Carey concert at the O2.

The Urban Retreat Cafe serves light refreshments from breakfasts to small plates, salads and sandwiches to full afternoon tea feasts or cream teas.

The afternoon tea menu includes:

Selection of open sandwiches

Spiced Coronation chicken 

Smoked salmon, lemon mayonnaise

English cucumber, cream cheese & herbs

Freshly Baked Scones

Cornish clotted cream & strawberry preserve

Miniature treats & fancies

Strawberry Eton mess "cheesecake" pot

Rich chocolate pot, salt caramel, hazelnuts & honeycomb

Mango & passion fruit slice 

The Chocolatier's truffles & macaroons 

Here are Melissa's thoughts: We had open sandwiches on nice rustic bread but there was only one of each variety. We also had one scone each, which was warm and fluffy and delicious - but there was only one tiny pot of jam and a dollop of cream between us. We asked for some butter which took about 10 mins to arrive and unfortunately we had to ask for it twice. 

The dessert pots, cake, macaroons and chocolate were all really gorgeous. 

We had a choice of tea from the menu, we both had Royal breakfast blend. However I asked for another pot and didn't realise we were charged an extra £5 for it. ( I've never had to pay for more tea at afternoon tea anywhere before!) 

I would go there again for an informal tea, it was enjoyable but definitely nothing special. Most customers were people who'd had treatments in the salon or staff on lunch. 

This afternoon tea is £20 per person, and so for the price offers a good, informal afternoon tea adventure - perfect for enjoying with friends on a shopping spree maybe?

For more information pop by the Urban Retreat website.

We'd like to thank Melissa for sharing her afternoon tea adventure with us - we always love to hear about the scrummy afternoon teas you've been enjoying!

Thank you for popping by today,

Rachel & Lorna

The Friday Review....Harrods First Blend Tea, 1901

Hello there,

Welcome back to the Tea With Me and Friends afternoon tea blog ..... it's the end of another week and that means it's time to share another cup of tea with you!

Last year when I was wandering about the Harrods food hall (as one does), I came across a rather beautiful tea caddy....

Harrods First Blend Tea

On closer inspection I discovered that this tea is from the Harrods archive collection, in fact this blend dates back to 1901. I couldn't resist giving this tea and try!

The Harrods tea counter has always been popular, the archive records show that shortly after the 1849 store opening the tea counter was already making £200 a week.

This first blend tea brings together ceylon, assam and china teas...

Harrods First Blend tea leaves

This blend appeared on the tea counter from 1901 until 1932 and once brewed you have an unusual, punchy tea with a beautiful amber colour...

Harrods First Blend Tea -
from the Archive Collection

The tea has a slightly nutty flavour, its a very robust cup of tea, but not too overpowering. Equally as good first thing in the morning with my breakfast or with a piece of cake in the afternoon...

Harrods First Blend Tea - perfect with a bit of cake!

I paid just under £20 for this tea, but that is for two foiled wrapped packs of tea - each 125g. Plus the caddy is rather cool! It would make a really nice present for a tea enthusiast!

For more information about this tea and the others in the Harrods range please pop by their website. Do you have a favourite tea from Harrods? We'd love to hear from you if you do - please leave us a message below!

Thank you for popping by today,

Rachel

The Friday Review....Harrods Spiced Black Tea

Hello there,

We hope you've had a tea-riffic week!

Today is Friday yet again.....so here on the Friday Review we are sharing another tea with you. This week it's the turn of the Harrods Christmas tea, which is a spiced black tea.

Recently I was extremely lucky to receive The Christmas Carol hamper from Harrods as a rather wonderful gift (I am so lucky - the sheer delight of unpacking the hamper was immense!). The hamper comes in a large hat box and contains rather a lot of goodies....

Harrods Christmas Carol Hamper

Once I had wrestled the lid off the box I discovered the scrummy treats inside included:

Spiced Omni-Grind Coffee

Spiced Black Loose Leaf Tea

Honey & Clementine Biscuits with Golden Sparkle

Winter Spiced Biscuits with Golden Sparkle

Clementine & Sweet Orange Marmalade

Spiced Pear & Madagascan Vanilla Jam

Brandy Butter with Courvoisier VS Cognac

Classic Christmas Pudding

......and a fabulous glossy Harrods red Christmas Bauble!

Harrods Christmas Carol Hamper

I got quite excited when I saw the Christmas inspired tea and decided I would try it straight away!

This is a black tea black tea from Sri Lanka which has been mixed with spices including cinnamon, cloves, orange and ginger, to create a truly festive blend. 

I decided this needed to be drunk in my Spode Christmas teacup with a mince pie (or two) to really appreciate the experience.....

Harrods Christmas Spiced Black Tea

I have to say I love this tea!

As you probably all know by now I LOVE Christmas! I love the food, the music, the films, the drinks....everything! But sometimes the Christmas teas I have enjoyed haven't been the best, the balance of spice isn't quite right or sometimes the spice is overpower. 

This cup of tea however was perfect - the black tea is bright and lively, strong enough to balance out the spices. And the spices in the blend have been well picked - this really is a fab cup of Christmas tea....I am slightly disappointed at how small the tin is....I think a trip into London might be required!

And just in case there weren't enough sweet treats in this post....take another peek at the homemade mince pies I enjoyed with my tea.....

Homemade mince pies from Tea With Me and Friends

For more information about this festive tea pop by the Harrods website.

Do you have a favourite Christmas tea? Why not leave us a comment and tell us all about it!

Thank you for popping by today,

Rachel