As this week was National Afternoon Tea Week, I thought I’d tell you about a lovely afternoon tea experience I had recently at Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff.
The ‘G & Tea’ is the latest addition to their Afternoon Tea menu and includes all the elements of a classic afternoon tea but with a gin twist! Instead of tea, you have a Hendrick’s cucumber gin cocktail served in a vintage Hendrick’s teapot. How quirky!
Personally, I love classic afternoon tea so I was apprehensive about having one with gin rather than traditional tea. But I’m all for giving things a go! Phil looked forward to trying it too. I think the fact that it had alcohol gave it an edge!
The Hendrick’s Elderflower Collins cocktail contained Hendrick’s Gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, Maraschino liqueur, lemon juice & soda served in a special Hendrick’s teapot. It was light and sweet but very refreshing – the perfect tipple for a warm summer afternoon.
The teapot and teacups also deserve a mention as they didn’t have the chintzy floral design you’d expect for afternoon tea but a gothic theme instead complete with quotes from writers such as Bram Stoker and John Milton. The alternative designs definitely appealed to Phil, who might not have been as keen if the crockery was floral and girly.
Now for my favourite part: the food. There was a selection of finger sandwiches, severn & wye smoked salmon, cucumber, dill and cream cheese, free range egg mayonnaise and cress as well as home roasted ham. A great choice of fillings, which weren’t too heavy. Just as well really because there so many sweet treats!
You can’t beat freshly baked scones so I was pleased to see that they were included with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve. Admittedly, I ordered an English Breakfast tea because there’s nothing better than tea and scone but the waitress was more than happy to accommodate.
To finish, there was an assortment of cakes and pastries, including lime jelly topped with mint & cucumber Chantilly cream, strawberry tart filled with champagne pastry cream, French macarons and Chocolate Opéra gateau. My favourite was the strawberry tart as it was the perfect balance of pastry and fruit. Not too sickly!
If you’re looking to do something a bit different, I’d highly recommend the G & Tea experience at Park Plaza. It’s an ideal way to spend a leisurely afternoon! A huge thanks to Park Plaza for the invite.
*Please note that Park Plaza offered me a complimentary afternoon tea in exchange for an honest review.