Afternoon tea in London is nothing short of a delicacy. Rated amongst the city’s finest, the Corinthia Hotel is world renowned and famous for its excellence, hospitality and heritage with splashes of modernity. Prided for it’s location, it is no wonder that the Corinthia comfortably sits in the heart of the West End. With the West End no short of being my personal playground, when I received an invitation to review the Corinthia’s newly-launched afternoon tea, I knew it would be an unforgettable experience. With the spectacular Baccarat Chandelier the focal point of the room, and uplifting melodies from a Steinway Piano, The Crystal Moon Lounge created an idyllic, romantic atmosphere. A gloomy London surrounded the Corinthia, and so I am excited to dine in the tranquil Garden Lounge on a beautiful summer day later this year and compare experiences.
Afternoon tea was kickstarted by a admiration of the carefully picked hand-painted Richard Bendon china. Following, an antique trolley wheeled to I and @rahichadda initiated the service. I was welcomed with a collection of fine teas, deliciously prepared by a Tea Master at the Tea Station. I chose the Jasmine Pearls because having lived in China, I enjoyed the very best Fujian province of China green tea leaves. However, since being back in the UK, I am yet to find one as tasteful, with a intoxicating floral aroma. It is safe to say that it met my standards of green tea. Despite the BBC covering the Afternoon Tea Service, I found that the staff remained calm, and demonstrated exceptional service. My dear friend Rahi befriended the Laurent-Perrier Rosé Champagne (wink wink) poured in a champagne flute, so I am certain that it was amazing too.
The second trolley of heaven came around with traditional scones and mouthwatering cakes and pastries. To my surprise, the chocolate eclairs were not great, since they had a tinge of dark chocolate. However, I loved the variety of desserts on offer and the fact that the staff went above and beyond to ensure our needs were catered to. Overall, I would highly recommend Afternoon Tea at the Corinthia and will most definite be back for Afternoon Tea at the Garden Lounge.
