One of Britain’s most beloved pastimes takes on a seasonal twist at The Biltmore Mayfair, where their dedicated Tea Lounge is now home to their Spring Afternoon Tea edition. It’s laced with modern flavours and comes in two variations, the Classic Afternoon Tea and the Nyetimber Chérrie Sparkling Wine Afternoon Tea. Here’s what’s in store this season…
Sandwiches and Savoury
As is custom, the experience begins with sandwiches and savoury bites. On the menu is focaccia, which deviates from the norm yet lands perfectly. It’s filled with tomato, pesto mayo and mozzarella, adding a fresh, Italian flair to the British spread. Alongside it are the tried-and-true favourites: the Coronation Chicken, which delivers on flavour, and the Cucumber, remaining simple, yet delightful – elevated with a delicate truffle mayo. The Smoked salmon and dill cream cheese offers a pleasant pairing of sweet and savoury in an onion-seeded brioche bun.
Accompanying the finger sandwiches is a trio of mini savoury pastries, a bold and flavourful bridge to the sweeter portion of the meal. The selection features a Black Olive Tart with crab and avocado mousse, topped with Tobiko caviar, followed by a classic bite-sized Cottage Pie that brings comforting familiarity. Rounding it off is a wonderfully flaky Wild Mushroom Vol-au-vent, filled with cep powder and cream cheese and crowned with a quail egg and dainty violet flower.
Seasonal Scones
The second course brings in another trio; however, this time it’s on the sweet side and arguably the most important component of an afternoon tea: the scone. Freshly baked, golden and warm, the scones are served with three flavours. At times less is more, and for those who prefer their scones to be untouched, plain is an option. However, the seasonal flavours, in this case, are worth much more. This spring, indulge in a decadent White Chocolate & Honey scone, perfectly balanced without a sense of overwhelming sweetness. Besides it is the zesty Cranberry & Orange scone, that pairs beautifully with the luxuriously thick Cornish clotted cream, a generous dollop of homemade strawberry jam, and a touch of natural sweetness from locally sourced British honeycomb.
Desserts
For the final course, there is a handpicked selection of intricately decorated, whimsical desserts crafted to capture the essence of Spring:
The Tale of a Lily is a choux bun filled with wild rhubarb crémeux and delicate jasmine and key lime mousse, sprouting a daisy-shaped opalys chocolate flower.
Forest Bloom charms with its “lucky mushroom” design—a playful dome of coconut mousse, mango and basil compote, and a crunchy base of organic chocolate and rice crisps.
English Rose offers a citrus-scented marvel. A rose-shaped delicacy made from orange blossom and chocolate mousse atop a hazelnut praline ganache and chocolate sable base.
Spring Buzz, perhaps the most whimsical of all, is shaped like a buzzing bee, filled with honey blossom mousse, apricot and lavender, perched on a buttery vanilla sable.
This limited-time offering, Spring Afternoon Tea, is available until the 22nd of June, making it the perfect excuse to indulge in the season’s softer side before summer makes way.
44 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HP, United Kingdom
