Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule more than 27 years ago but one British tradition remains ingrained in the city’s culinary landscape: afternoon tea. Its origins can be traced to 1840s England, when the Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell, a close friend of Queen Victoria and a member of London’s upper class, wanted a light refreshment to keep at bay what she called “that sinking feeling” between lunch and dinner. She was given tea with cake and a sandwich – and the afternoon tea, now typically served from 3.
30pm to 5pm, was born. No longer the preserve of the upper class, it has spread around the world, and is particularly popular at high-end hotels. Other places have broken with tradition, loading their tiered towers with themed delicacies and serving tea in collaboration with beauty and fashion brands.
Read on for some of the best afternoon teas currently being served in Hong Kong and Macau. The tea features a lemon confit confection made with locally sourced lemons; honey sponge cake; and finger sandwiches with fillings such as blue crab and pomelo, egg and caviar, and smoked salmon and cream cheese. Finish off with freshly baked scones and madeleines served with clotted cream and home-made oolong peach jam and apricot jam.
The Lobby Lounge, Regent Hong Kong, 8 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2313 2313 Inspired by the Danish lifestyle concept of hygge – a fuzzy feeling of cosy contentment – this afternoon tea at Nordic favourite Finds includes savoury items such as roast venison, flame-grilled trout, and roasted Hokkaido scallop and golden beetroot. Desserts include apple crumble, pumpkin carrot cake, and lingonberry and dark chocolate panna cotta. The set is available until November 30 and is priced at HK$388 for one or HK$588 for two on weekdays, and HK$368 for one or HK$638 for two on weekends and public holidays.
Finds, 1/F, The Luxe Manor, 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, tel: 2522 9318 Madame Fù has joined forces with French jewellery brand Les Néréides for a butterfly-themed afternoon tea set (HK$338 per person/HK$550 for two) until August 31. Inspired by the Parisian brand’s floral collection, it includes raspberry white chocolate cream choux, black sesame lemon tartlet, grilled Brie and ham sandwich, Granny Smith crab salad, and truffle mushroom vol au vent. Madame Fù, 3/F, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, tel: 2114 2118 Sky Lounge, 18/F, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, 20 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2369 1111 The Garden Lounge at The Murray hotel in Central is serving a “Unikko Forever” afternoon tea set as part of a collaboration with Finnish design house Marimekko to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Unikko flower print.
Priced at HK$788 for two (including coffee or tea) and HK$988 for two (including two glasses of Saicho sparkling tea or sparkling wine), it is available until August 31. Garden Lounge, UG/F, The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, tel: 3141 8888 Skincare brand Glamdy has collaborated with Pierside Bar & Restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui for an afternoon tea that is available from 3pm to 5.30pm daily until October 31.
The tea includes a handbag-inspired rose cheesecake, smoked salmon mousse with caviar, and lychee mousse with bird’s nest. Take home a complimentary Glamdy skincare gift set in a chic handbag. The tea is priced at HK$228 per person and includes freshly brewed coffee or tea and house red or white wine.
Pierside Bar & Restaurant, Upper Lobby, Towers Wing Royal Pacific Hotel, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2738 2398 The JW Marriott Hotel Macau pays homage to the culinary tradition of cha gordo , Macau’s version of afternoon tea that literally translates to “fat tea”. The star of the set is the grilled octopus on charred pineapple – the octopus has been marinated in Portuguese white wine, fresh orange juice and bay leaves, then slow-cooked for 10 hours. Sweet items include almond cream cheese, Japanese raspberry, and Madagascar vanilla choux.
The set (468 patacas or US$58 for two) is available until October 31. The Lounge, G/F, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, Galaxy Macau, Estrada da Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança, Cotai, Macau, (853) 8886 6888 Macau’s Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge’s afternoon tea (538 patacas for two including tea or coffee, or 738 patacas for two with champagne) is available until September 30. It includes savoury items such as lobster roll with Alaskan king crab aspic (or meat jelly) and snap peas.
Sweet items include a puff filled with red berry coulis and raspberry cream, and chocolate crispy with mint mousse and caramel apples. Do not miss the signature green-tea cranberry scones and rum raisin scones. The Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge, 51/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Galaxy Macau, Estrada da Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança, Cotai, Macau, tel: (853) 8886 6268.
