Tea Time Travels

Autumn is my favorite season. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, as many people I talk to express the same feeling. The first cool mornings of September, the ever-so-subtle fading evening light, the start of leaves scattering the walks are all signs to me that Autumn is just around the corner. Not surprising, it has been a particularly dry year in the Sierra Foothills in Northern California so the heat has hung on making me impatient for our change of season. I'll give in to my impatience and happily take off for far flung places to "chase the Fall" so to speak.

A European vacation is just the thing to satisfy my tea time obsession and wanderlust! I've always wanted to visit the beautiful Cotswolds in England after a missed opportunity several years ago while visiting London, so this trip I've made it a priority. Of course I will also be scouting out different and unique places for Afternoon Tea, another favorite pastime (so much so, I own and operate a tearoom). I'm looking for the quintessential experience; what makes a proper tea and how does it differ from city to city?
Where to start in London? That's a difficult question as you will find exceptional places for tea everywhere! Most venues for afternoon tea or high tea are in hotels. I found a lovely hotel to enjoy afternoon tea with a view of Kensington Gardens, the Royal Gardens Hotel. Their Park Terrace lounge and tearoom offer a lovely menu. Awarded the Tea Guilds "Awards of Excellence" two years running for their superb afternoon tea experience, I was welcomed with a seat by the windows to enjoy the view of Kensington Gardens.

I indulged in the royal tea and started with fresh strawberries drizzled with balsamic vinegar to bring out the sweetness, and a glass of champagne. The tea sommelier brought a tray to my table so that I could make an informed choice of tea selection. I examined each sample and enjoyed seeing many varieties that I stock in my tearoom, but I was looking for something different so I chose a green tea called Eight Butterflies combining the vibrant flavors of cranberries, rose petal and chrysanthemum with a Japanese Sencha and Genmaicha. This tea was a wonderful choice and the delicate aroma and taste was just what I was looking for. I was brought a large pot along with a pot of hot water to top off as needed.
Next came an assortment of delicious sandwiches efficiently set before me by a uniformed waiter, one of many who attended to my needs. The sandwich selection included traditional offerings such as smoked salmon stuffed in a pinwheel of wheat bread, egg mayonnaise and chicken & cress. Other unique tastes included a white cheddar & chutney finger sandwich, tomato basil, roast beef with gherkin and prawn with Mary Rose cocktail sauce. I was informed the "Mary Rose" cocktail sauce did not contain cognac as is customary! They were all delectable, needless to say.

Lastly a three tier of treats with scones on the bottom tier wrapped in linen to keep warm, accompanied with a side tray of thick clotted cream and strawberry & nectarine preserves made in house. The middle tray held tea breads of chocolate and lemon. The top tier held delicious sweets of strawberry shortcake with strawberry cream mousse layered between shortbread and orange cream cake with a tuile of brandy snap filled with Irish cream. It was a lot of food and I was unable to finish it all, but I did try a taste of everything and it was just perfect.

Unlike the frills of Victorian style tearooms, there is an understated air of elegance in the space with diners enjoying tea along with patrons in the lounge directly opposite along the terrace. The resident pianist plays standards and classics all the while as I relax over my tea, now replete. Moon River brings back memories from my childhood. I imagine Holly Go Lightly would have enjoyed having tea at Tiffany's if given the chance. She would have donned her elegant black dress and diamond tiara dressing up to sip tea from delicate china, with pinkie up, or with a flute of bubbly. It's a nice idea to escape for a while and what better way than while enjoying tea. I'm confident Holly Go Lightly would approve, I think to myself. Who wouldn't?