Best Hotel Tea Ceremonies From Around the World

I love afternoon tea! The glorious stop-and-lavish-the-moment aspect of a tea ceremony, be it European, English or Asian, makes me happy. When you’re on the road and you want to indulge in some of the best hotel tea ceremonies, from an authentic Japanese tea service to themed teas and rare blends, here’s where to head:

Langham Hotels

More than 140 years ago, traditional English tea service began at the Palm Court at the The Langham in London. Now, every Langham Hotel around the world (Pasadena, Boston and Chicago opening soon) serves afternoon tea, named ‘Tiffin at The Langham’, daily. At the Langham, London, tea themes include the Wonderland Afternoon tea, featuring traditional finger sandwiches and scones with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry preserves, and 1865 Langham High Tea, which includes French pastries, soup du jour and Laurent Perrier champagne. With all offerings, a tea sommelier is on hand to assist with the pairing of tea blends.

Outside of the U.K., the “Tiffin at the Langham” is served with savory tea sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream, fruit tarts, homemade pastries and assorted tea cakes and, of course, a variety of delish teas.

The Kitano New York

A stay at Kitano, New York’s only Japanese-owned hotel, begins with a cup of green tea and each room is equipped with traditional Japanese tea sets. Also available for groups, you can arrange for a Traditional Tea Gathering Ceremony to sample and learn about the traditions of thin tea (usucha) served in some of the finest pottery and antiques along with a traditional light meal (tenshin) prepared by the hotel’s Michelin starred Japanese restaurant, Hakubai. The ceremonies take place in rooms with traditional Japanese décor and an authentic setting with tatami mats and shoji screens. Annually, they host a Japanese Tea Ceremony event in Fall/Winter, more details to come.

The Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans

Built for the 1984 World’s Fair, The Windsor Court Hotel pays tribute to its British roots, with an authentic English afternoon tea service. Offering a selection of 26 of the finest loose-leaf variety brews, tea time begins with a light cocktail or sparkling beverage, followed by a properly brewed pot of tea and nibbles like gourmet sandwiches, scones and desserts. Depending on the time of year, the hotel also offers themed teas such as a an Alice in Wonderland Tea, Princess Tea for young girls, and a Butterfly Tea, featuring live butterflies in displays courtesy of the NOLA’s Audubon Insectarium.

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny, Wales

I ate my way through Wales, truly from the north to the south. And even though my pants were popping at the seams from the previous days gluttony, when I stayed at the Angel Hotel, I had to try the award-winning high tea. (Angel Hotel won 2011 Best Afternoon Tea in Wales by the UK Tea Guild). So glad I did as I still remember the clotted cream and dainty scones. And if you time the high-tea just right, you may be lucky enough to meet the co-ed Knitting Out club, which convenes at the hotel for weekly group knitting sessions.

Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Tea with Tiepolo is a tradition not to be missed at the Rome Cavalieri hotel. Served in grand style at the Tiepolo Lounge and Terrace, the service combines the charm of an English afternoon tea with the lustiness of Italian cuisine. Finger sandwiches, scones, selection of pastries and assorted fruit are all served on a vermeil tea set. Making a tea selection could take some time as there are lots of exotic blends to choose from including Yin Zhen, a rare white tea from an island in Hunan province in China, and Budda Ama-Cha, an exotic green tea grown in the uplands near Kyoto in Japan. And what’s not to love about taking tea while staring up at the hotel’s greatest art treasures – the magnificent Tiepolo triptych.

For more info, on best hotel tea ceremonies, check out:

Best Hotel Teas Just for Kids
8 Best Places for Afternoon Tea in New York City
World’s Best Hotels for Afternoon Tea

In other tea news:

Fancy Tea Sets For Mom (or any other tea lover in your life)

Drink Well,

Lanee

FYI - This list is not exhaustive, just a few I like. Feel free to add yours!

Usually I look for something personal for my moms, yep I have two, for Mother’s Day. But after a photo mug, a mother’s birthstone necklace, a calendar with family photos, etc, I have run out of ideas. Searching the internet today for ideas, I came across beautiful tea sets for Mother’s Day, perfect for any mom, grandma or special lady in your life.

If you’re out of ideas like I was, hopefully one of these tea sets for Mother’s Day will do the trick. And most of these are all available on Amazon.com, so if you leave it until the last minute, they can probably still save the day:

Art of Tea On-the-Go Travel Set

For the wanderluster on your list, the to-go travel tea set is ideal. Comes in a gift box with an Art of Tea Stainless Steel Travel Tumbler and a four tea sampler of your choice. Choose the Mother’s Day tea sampler that includes Oolong Rose (Mother’s Day Tea), Tea for Her, Happy Tea and the Iron Goddess of Mercy tea. ($38)

Numi Artisan’s Blending Kit

Inspire your mom’s inner ‘creativi-tea’ with this create-your-own-tea-blend kit by Numi. Packaged in a recyclable craft box, it has 10 teas, herbs, fruits, flowers and spices, plus tea sacs, a glass teapot. Kit features the following items: 1 glass tea pot, 20 non-GMO and biodegradable tea sacs, recipe guide and 10 organic teas, teasans, fruits, flowers, herbs and spices. Organic Teas & Teasans: Green Tea Pearls, Yunnan Black Tea (Chinese Breakfast), Bai Mu Dan White Tea, Rooibos; Organic Fruits, Flowers, Herbs & Spices: Moroccan Mint, Ginger, Lemongrass, Orange Peel, Cinnamon and Rose Petals. ($30 on Amazon.com)

Teavana Tea Sampler Gift Set

This comes is a snazzy copper box with everything to make the perfect cup of tea: tea pot, German Rock sugar, MateVana tea, Strawberry Lemonade herbal tea, Sakura (cherry) Allure green tea and Rooibos Chai tea and a teaspoon.

Numi Organic Tea Flowering Gift Set

Instead of giving flowers in vase this year, why now flowers in your mom’s teacup? The Flowering Gift Set includes a box of Numi’s Enchanted Blossoms Flowering Tea (6 handsewn tea leaves and flowers) and a 16 oz. glass teapot to watch the tea petals bloom. ($25 on Amazon.com)

Sweet Decadence Tea Set

Dessert in cup with no calories. Teavana’s Decadence tea set includes two 8oz infuser mugs, 4 airtight tea tins, and 2oz of the following Teavana teas: Toasted Nut Brulee, CocoCaramel Sea Salt, WonderBerry Chocolate Truffle, and Slimful Chocolate Decadence. ($80)

Photos of Numi teas courtesy of Numi, headliner is my own photo.

Living in L.A. for more than a decade, I’ve said the phrase “Only in L.A.” about a million times. The Los Angeles Vegan Beer Fest has caused me to say it again. But isn’t beer vegan you ask? Yes, mostly, for the exception of brewers that use gelatin or isinglass (made from fish swim bladders) to help clarify it or those using honey or lactose for body.

More importantly, instead of all the carnage accoutrements one normally associates with beer drinking – sausage, ribs, bacon anything, and fried chicken – no animals will suffer for the merriment of a brew-ha-ha next Saturday in West Hollywood.

Some may think a vegan beer festival is crazy, and by the photo of a few of last year’s Los Angeles Vegan Beer Fest-goers, they might be. But, crazy in a good way – like as in doing your body, the planet and a few hundred animals a favor by abstaining from meat for a day.

The 4th Annual LA Vegan Beer & Food Festival will have 40+ participating brewers, both craft and mainstream brewing companies, like Dogfish Head, Ballast Point, Surf Brewing, Anchor, and Ass Kisser.

And not to worry, you won’t starve, soaking up the alcohol with merely a bag of Pirate’s Booty and carrots sticks. Some of L.A.’s finest restaurants, not necessarily all vegan, will be showing off their gourmet meatless chops. With more than 30 vendors, you can literally pig out sans the pig, of course. Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Susan Feniger’s STREET, and the Southern Fried Vegan BBQ are just a few I’m looking forward to sampling.

No festival is complete without live tunes. Yep, you guessed it, at least one band, by the looks of their name, playing at the Los Angeles Vegan Beer Fest is vegan: Vegan Boss.

The Los Angeles Vegan Beer fests starts at 1 p.m. on May 4th, but if you want to get fancy, VIP tickets include a 12 p.m entry with access to special brews. Tickets purchased in advance start at $15 for non-drinkers, $40 for general and $50 for VIP. Head HERE for tickets. A portion of all ticket sales benefits k9 connection, an experience-based program which educates and inspires at-risk teens through bonding with and training homeless shelter dogs.

Cheers to a day of honoring your love of brews and beasts!

For more info, check out their the Los Angeles Vegan Beer Fest facebook page or follow them on Twitter @LAVeganBeerFest.

Vegan Beer & Food Festival, May 4th, 2013, 8950 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA

Photos courtesy of LA Vegan Beer & Food Fest