Summer doesn’t have to be all about ice creams. If you’re a tea addict like some of us, it doesn’t matter which season it is to enjoy a hot cup of it. Take your tea experience a notch above on a fine afternoon with these elaborate afternoon high tea offerings our city has, close to the way the English do it. Here’s your chance to live it up, royally, starting with the tea-time.
Chennai:
Lady Connemara at Taj Connemara
With its rich historic past, Lady Connemara Bar and Lounge’s high tea tradition is filled with elegance. The lounge offers the afternoon high tea experience in three curated forms of classical afternoon tea, celebration afternoon tea and Best of Madras. While the classical experience is replete with scones, poached cornfed chicken with coronation mayo sandwich, classic opera cake and much more accompanied by clotted cream and served with an extensive selection of teas, including oolong, black and green. The celebrations afternoon tea elevates the experience with champagne. If you want to take the Madras route, indulge in mini adai with injee chutney, millet kuzhi paniyaram, Connemara degree kaapi or a mint coconut cooler. Sit back and take in the grandeur of the lounge’s high ceiling and its interiors with British detailing tinted with Indian influences.
The English Tearoom
This place is for those who are looking for a fancy high tea party with a cool ambiance. The restaurant beckons people to enjoy quality time with friends and family, and especially to rediscover the art of relaxed conversation. All their teas are organic and loose leaf. They serve cream tea that comes with an assortment of sandwiches, pastries and warm raisin scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Flower Power Tea Room
The well-lit and bright-coloured interiors make this café not only look good, but also smell very fragrant with its floral decor, which tend to give a very European appearance to the place. Pair your high tea along with their scones, classic Victoria sponge cake and sandwiches made of mayo and watercress, chicken and avocado or roast chicken and stuffing. Enjoy iced teas in flavours like zesty orange, citrus splash and mint coolers to beat the heat.
The Brew Room
With its breezy outdoor setting, this café, which is popularly known for its coffee brews, also offers a delicious afternoon high tea experience. The restaurant offers artisanal teas, including lavender white, marigold green, chilli black and vanilla black teas. Pair these unique flavours with some delicious cupcakes, eclairs, and open sandwiches or bruschetta. The well-arranged seating on the outdoors makes for a great al fresco experience for an afternoon with friends.