Claridge’s afternoon tea exudes charm, elegance and class. One of England’s great exports must be afternoon tea and on the top table of the school of afternoon tea must be Claridge’s situated in the heart of London’s Mayfair.
I grew up with afternoon tea, with a mother that yes, I admit spoilt me. She was a lady that liked to do things properly and though not always served in the style of Downton Abbey my memories are abundant with sitting outside with my family having afternoon tea usually as a stop gap for us in between a busy afternoon of chores and gardening. Tea was in a pot, a cake had been baked, scones warmed and maybe a slice of two of bread and jam. This was family afternoon tea whereby we rested, conversed, munched on tasty nibbles, and enjoyed each other’s company.
These elements are the things I adore and so when one makes the occasion more formal, think of maybe scenes out of The Importance of Being Ernest with young Gwendoline, the occasion, clothing and setting is more glamorous but the emotional joy of letting the world go by, sharing time with loved ones and taking part in a custom which is wonderfully charming and civilised and should be thoroughly celebrated.
See what’s in store for your Claridge’s Traditional Afternoon Tea with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Rosé…
The one thing that it’s important to say is something I feel very strongly about. True etiquette is making people feel welcome whether your background is as a scullery maid or the Lord of the manor. A true lady, gentleman and indeed a top-class London hotel is about welcoming people. Some luxury can seem elitest but one of the qualities of a hotel like Claridge’s is the warmth you receive. Yes there are rules of etiquette as there should be in all walks of life, but I wanted to be clear the welcome you will receive from the doorman to the waiters in my view is classy, genuine and kind which are truly admirable qualities, and after these audits its unsurprising that I say I enjoyed my afternoon with my friend greatly and thoroughly recommend you visit or revisit to take part in a spot of afternoon tea.
Claridge’s Afternoon Tea
www.claridges.co.uk/restaurants-bars/afternoon-tea/
Claridge’s
Brook Street
Mayfair
London W1K 4HR
Claridge’s Dining
Reservations: Tel: +44 (0)20 7107 8886
Email: [email protected]
Raisin and plain scones
Freshly baked every day in Claridge’s kitchens served with Cornish clotted cream, Claridge’s afternoon tea jam.
Pastries
A section of pastries crafted under the guidance of Thibault Hauchard made daily by our team of Pastry Chefs Chocolate and Brazil nut religieuse Pear and almond bourdaloue tart Mandarine and shiso cake Pineapple and kaffir lime pavlova
A selection of traditional sandwiches
Smoked salmon and dill crème fraiche on rye bread
Roasted chicken, baby gem lettuce and tarragon on granary bread
Honey glazed ham with orange and mustard mayonnaise on onion bread
Truffle egg mayonnaise and watercress on white bread
English cucumber with minted crème fraîche on white bread
Sandwiches
To tantalise your taste buds Severn & Wye smoked salmon served on rye bread with dill and crème fraiche from an independent business based at Westbury-on-Severn, because they smoke the salmon to a more generous depth of flavour and their Dorrington ham sandwich is served on onion bread accompanied with orange and mustard mayonnaise. Claridge’s Executive Chef searched high and low for the best quality ham, and eventually chose a father and son producer from the West Midlands who have now worked with us for over 15 years. Cooked in our own kitchens to a classic recipe, this is a wonderfully textured thick meat prepared for the perfect sandwich. And no English afternoon tea is complete without a cucumber sandwich for which Claridge’s cucumbers are grown organically in the heart of England, under glass or in the great outdoors, depending on the weather. The cucumber is served with minted crème fraîche on white bread.
Afternoon Tea Etiquette creating a delicate balance. You might notice there is always a consistent balance between the thickness of the bread and the filling in our sandwiches, so that the filling is the same depth as the carefully sliced bread. Unlike bread sliced for toasting, Claridge’s bread is laterally sliced so that it retains its shape and is a pleasure to look at and eat.
Attention to detail
The hotels fine bone china is made to a unique Claridge’s pattern, but you will notice the shape is contemporary so though the traditions are old that does not mean everything is left in the past and the cutlery is from one of the world’s finest makers in Hamburg, also made to a unique Claridge’s design.
Scones
The Claridge’s scone recipe is a timeless classic, carefully refined over generations. Served freshly baked and warm, they offer a plain and raisin scone with a soft, yielding texture and a colour of warm white gold. The scones are accompanied by Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream, we consider the finest in Britain, and a specially made Claridge’s afternoon tea jam.
Jam first, or cream?
It’s been a topic of much debate over the generations.
In Claridge’s view, it is the cream that comes first, followed by a teaspoon of Claridge’s
afternoon tea jam. Of course this is just their opinion and and the order of ceremony
will always remain entirely a matter for you to decide.
Sweet pastries
Claridge’s serves a choice of four delicious, sweet pastries. Crafted under the guidance of Claridge’s Executive Pastry Chef Thibault Hauchard, they change according to the availability of the very finest seasonal ingredients and are made fresh each day by our dedicated team of pastry chefs. Blending exquisite flavours with intricate and inventive designs, each creation has a story to tell. This is an experience to savour – one that is made to be shared.
Claridge’s Teas
Sourced by Rare Tea Company, London which is at the core of Claridge’s afternoon tea. 150 years have been dedicated to the constant refinement of the art of making the perfect cup of tea.
A carefully curated selection was put together with the skill and expertise by world-renowned tea connoisseur Henrietta Lovell of Rare Tea Company and has been sourced from some of the oldest tea plantations in China, Sri Lanka, Africa, India and an idyllic corner of Cornwall to name but a few.
Including many rare and famous teas including favourites like Earl Grey to rare chai and our favourite name White Monkey Paw Green Tea which is a whole leaf tea that has been meticulously hand-crafted in the Fujian Mountains of China giving you a clean, soft and delicate refreshing tea. It can be enjoyed with a drop of heather honey.