The Langham’s Palm Court is serving one of Hong Kong’s fanciest afternoon teas. Amy Djokovic and daughter Bella frocked-up.
Amy and Bella investigate the delights of the tea-tray.
It doesn’t get more British than polite chatter and the delicate burble of tea trickling into fine china teacups.
But despite the United Kingdom departing Hong Kong in the 1990s, the quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea remained. And with plenty of fancy hotels and world-leading pastry chefs in town, Hong Kong’s tea tradition has gone from strength-to-strength.
The Langham, Hong Kong, has now upped the stakes further still with its latest offering, for which it has collaborated with glamorous Italian luxury brand BVGALRI, no less.
Looking for some mum and daughter time away from the weekday stresses and screens of homeschooling, a fancy afternoon tea was the perfect weekend treat.
The BVLGARI Rose Goldea Afternoon Tea at The Langham’s elegant Palm Court is inspired by the new limited edition BVLGARI Rose Goldea fragrance (there are complimentary miniature bottles with the tea on a first-come-first-serve basis).
Executive pastry chef Jean-Marc Gaucher has pulled out all the stops to create a stunning tea in delicate, romantic pinks. Raspberries, strawberries and pink guavas shine amongst the chic assortment of sweet and savoury treats.
Executive pastry chef Jean-Marc Gaucher has created a tempting selection of treats.
The savoury balanced well with the sweet although Bella immediately honed in on the tempting 'Diamond Forever' raspberry, milk chocolate and rose confection along with the fresh scones.
I particularly enjoyed the foie gras mousse with pink champagne jelly which I opted to wash down with a perfectly pink Enchanted Rose cocktail of silk rose tea with rose syrup. This was extra to the tea set; the menu does include a range of fine leaf teas, or you can opt to upgrade to the Deluxe Menu which includes a glass of Taittinger Champagne.
Further treats included a 'Rose Goldea' filled with cherry sakura lava, a ‘Dare to Dream’ cheesecake of pink guava and citrus and the strawberry-stuffed ‘Get Wild, Be Bold’ custard patisserie.
Savoury items ran from a chicken and asparagus sandwich with truffle, Italian parma ham and celeriac remoulade and Scottish salmon roulette with trout caviar.
No afternoon tea is complete without the obligatory plate of scones and they came with Devonshire clotted cream and two flavours of jam.
The tea was stunningly presented with plenty to eat and we thoroughly enjoyed our mother and daughter afternoon.
And for Bella, the highlight was perhaps her little bottle of BVLGARI perfume, now pride of place in her bedroom.
The BVLGARI Rose Goldea Afternoon Tea is available from now until March 31; weekdays 3-5.30pm, weekends and public holidays 2.15-4.15pm & 4.30-6.30pm. The tea costs HK$398 per person or HK$688 for two. The Deluxe Menu costs HK$588 per person or HK$888 for two with a glass of Taittinger champagne each. An Enchanted Rose cocktail costs HK$120 per glass. Bookings online.
More teas to try
Aqua Luna
Hong Kong’s renowned red-sailed Chinese junk will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a Romantic Afternoon Tea Cruise. The tea includes rose dumplings, mini tiramisu, macaroons, scones and more. The experience costs HK$388 per person and includes a glass of bubbles. Sailings run 3.30 to 5pm on February 14 and 15.
The St Regis Macao
The Macau-based hotel is serving the 100 Years Afternoon Tea in collaboration with British fine bone china brand, Royal Albert. Treats include smoked salmon roe blini, quiche and a selection of sandwiches. Finish with freshly baked scones, ‘Big Ben’ mousse and ‘London Eye’ chocolate cake. The tea costs MOP398 for two or MOP588 for two with a glass of Billecart-Salmon Champagne each.
Amy Djokovic is a Hong Kong-based travel blogger and photographer and contributor to Asia Family Traveller. Follow her on Instagram at miniluxetravel .