Confessions of a Chocoholic Tea

Taking afternoon tea is fast becoming the thing to do in London town. Perhaps it is something to do with the changing of the seasons. With the gloomy winds of autumn beginning to stir, it is becoming ever more necessary to sit down for a hot drink and some much-needed nourishment.

But sustaining oneself need not be dour and as dull as the clouds beginning to clog up the sky. With Harrods and gentleman’s club Sanctum offering luxurious afternoon teas, it seems that you do not need to limit yourself to a plate full of curling sandwiches and a pot of weak tea.

At the Podium restaurant in the Park Lane Hilton, they have put together an afternoon tea that has all the luxurious qualities you would associate with a premier brand like the Hilton. First up is a tray of open sandwiches. It is a curious mix of the archaic and the forward-thinking. The sandwiches are cut into severe rectangles with the five separate fillings arranged very deliberately on top of the single piece of bread. It looks very impressive until you realise that this is a fancy way of presenting classic sandwiches. Everything you might expect is there.

The one problem with this is that although the design is very cute and the fillings delicious, the open-plan design means some of the sandwiches, such as the egg and cress and the prawn mayonnaise, can be a little unwieldy at times. For these two, it requires nimble fingers to make sure that the whole thing doesn’t topple over on its way to your mouth.

However, once these are out of the way, it is time to move onto the actual tea. Entitled ‘Confessions of a Chocoholic’, it seems that this person had a lot to divulge. This is not so much afternoon tea as a scene from the circle of hell ascribed to gluttony. This may seem like an exaggeration but the level of detail is astonishing.

On the bottom row of the tray are four scones – two plain, one filled with raisins and the other with chocolate chips. The middle layer contained four cupcakes, each ornately decorated. However, it is the top row that is the standout; a tray of miniature fancies such as a lychee, raspberry, rose water mousse, a chocolate mille feuille and a cone of marshmallow with white chocolate ganache. These are but three of the creations found here, all of which are presented on an edible white chocolate base. It is marvellously sumptuous and an utter delight.

If you’re around the Park Lane area or just feel like treating yourself, this tea comes highly recommended. It is only £22.50 per person, which will provide you with an experience that will make up for the feeling of gloom as you unpack those thick jumpers in preparation for winter.

Podium Restaurant
London Hilton on Park Lane
22 Park Lane
Mayfair
W1K 1BE

Tel:  020 7208 4022

The restaurant will also be serving a Halloween chocolate afternoon tea in late October.