I’ve enjoyed the Chesterfield Mayfair afternoon tea a few times so it was good to return for the new ‘Afternoon Bee‘. This honey-themed afternoon tea is available from June to September 2014 and is inspired by the 60,000 bees in the hives on the hotel’s rooftop.
Did you know that one in three mouthfuls of the food we eat is dependent on pollination? I took my daughter with me to try the seasonal delights as she’s been learning about bees and wildflowers recently.
While perusing the menu do admire the delightful paintings behind the words as these were done by one of the Reception staff, and there’s a poem by Elizabeth Darcy Jones, Britain’s Tea Poet. Then enjoy your iced mint tea to cleanse your palate before the cake stand arrives.
We tried two of the new teas: Organic Rosebuds, and Elderflower and Lemon Verbana – both caffeine-free so I could share with my daughter. The Rosebuds is the more delicate flavour and the Elderflower and Lemon Verbana was really refreshing. I also liked the Jing glass teapots and the fact hot water was added regularly without needing to ask.
The cake stand was laid out traditionally – finger sandwiches on the lowest level, scones in the middle and sweet treats on the top but the cakes were wonderfully creative. The Rosemary and honey macaroon with chocolate ganache was my daughter’s favourite but I have to say the Flower pot of chocolate mousse and chocolate almond soil was mine! I have never eaten from a flower pot before – at least not at the dinner table – and this was both quirky and delicious.
I struggled to convince my daughter to eat sandwiches first as she just wanted to go straight to the cakes. She did hold back long enough to eat the smoked salmon sandwich – and to ask for more – before nibbling from the top layer commenced.
I, on the other hand, showed amazing restraint and enjoyed my vegetarian finger sandwiches and then moved on to the scones. We received individual pots of clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam/preserve each which saved the concerns about jam in the cream. The scones were incredibly good and cut easily – almost fell into two – and were perfectly soft and not crumbly at all.
The music was from a keyboard/piano in the Butler’s Restaurant and, as were advised we could make requests, my daughter asked for some Beatles songs and then sang along.
Booking Information
Afternoon Bee is from £34.50 per person. At the end of your visit guests are invited to dip their hand in the honeypot for a guaranteed prize on their next visit (from a discount on your next afternoon tea to an overnight stay in a luxury suite). Full info: www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/bar-and-dining/afternoon-tea/afternoon-bee
Disclaimer: As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, I believe in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.