The Great British Affair promotion by Shangri-La Hotel
Kuala Lumpur got off to a tea-rrific start with an exquisite London Tea
Exchange Afternoon Tea experience at the Lobby Lounge.
Available now until 31 October 2024, a fine selection
of premium tea from London Tea Exchange will be served to complement delicious afternoon
tea treats by the Shangri-La team.
At an exclusive preview to mark the debut of London
Tea Exchange into the South East Asian market, the luxury tea brand hosted a
tea tasting session at the Shangri-La KL. London
Tea Exchange Group Chairman Sheikh Aliur Rahman who joined the event virtually via live
stream from London said: “London Tea Exchange has some 3,400 some premium teas
sourced from over 40 countries across the globe. Our established, longstanding
relationship with many individual tea estates mean some of the rarest tea are
exclusive to London Tea Exchange.” According to Aliur, London Tea Exchange is low-key but
a purveyor of fine teas to numerous royal households around the world. “We’re
proud of the instrumental role London Tea Exchange played in raising the daily
wage of tea plantation workers. As part of the Fair Pay Foundation, we’ve
helped to raise the income threshold for tea plantation workers, almost all of
them women who earn less than USD4 per day.”
The tea tasting session saw us beginning with English
Breakfast, a classic tea popularised in 1800s. On the palate, we discerned earthy
Sri Lankan tea nuanced with the maltiness of Assam tea leaves and the smokiness
of Indonesian black tea.
Another quintessentially British favourite, The Earl
Grey captured our hearts with its refined blend of Yunnan black tea and Ceylon tea,
gently scented with pure bergamot oil from Calabria, Italy. It was an enlightening
discovery as we learned more often than not, the bergamot flavour is usually
sprayed onto tea leaves hence the resultant aroma and flavour tend to be
heavier and overpowering on both the nose and tastebuds.
My favourite has to be Milk Oolong which comprised
hand-rolled Oolong tea leaves. The withered, slightly wet tea leaves are heated
in milk steam to bestow the Oolong tea with a distinct creamy taste.
Fruity tea lovers will take an instant liking to Bora
Bora, a sweet, tangy tea made with strawberries, tropical papaya and a myriad
of fruits to bright, palate-pleasing tea which can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Floral with hints of raspberries, rhubarb and cherries,
the Sea of Blossoms blend incorporates an array of carefully selected exotic blossoms
to produce a soothing tea.
There’s a playful and inventive side to London Tea
Exchange as well. The team took over two years to develop and perfect the Pistachio
& Truffle blend, paying homage to the Middle Eastern culture. Using real
pistachios and chocolate truffle, the subtle nutty-rich tea proved intriguing
and luxuriant on the tongue.
LONDON TEA EXCHANGE AFTERNOON TEA AT LOBBY LOUNGE
To further showcase its range of fine teas, London Tea
Exchange is partnering with Shangri-La KL’s Executive Chef Scott Brands and his
team to proffer a limited time Afternoon Tea (3pm-6pm) at RM220 nett per set
for two persons.
Most of the savoury creations flaunted pink hues, in
tribute of Pink October. We sampled delicious Savoury Snow Crab Rolls, Diced
Apple and Mustard Cress, and Norwegian Salmon Pinwheel for openers.
Top marks went to the Smoked Duck and Foie Gras
Croquette with Cherry but no less appealing were the Trout Caviar with Beets
Brioche and Summer Truffle Egg Salad.
Rose petal and cherry accentuated Sencha Sakura tea
was chosen by the chefs to imbue its delicate flavour into the creation of Rose
Ivoire Chocolate Mousse Meringue whilst the Sea of Blossom Tea lent its ethereal
floral-berry notes to the crisp Wild Berries Macarons.
A stellar Dark Chocolate Mousse with Paillete
Feuilletine (crisp leaf-like flakes) Victoria Cake infused with Orange &
Cinnamon Tea grabbed our attention at first bite. It was well seconded by the enticing
Sea of Blossom Mille Feuille.
We did adequate justice to the pink-hue Dried Fruit
Scone with Bora Bora Tea and Plain Scones, piling a generous amount of Raspberry
Jam, Clotted Cream and Whipped Butter on them.
The tea treats made excellent pairing with Milk Oolong
but the Premium Emperor’s Palace Tea – a Fujianese green tea with subtle honey
notes won’t go remiss either.
For reservations at Lobby Lounge,
Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, call tel: 03 2786 2378.
