Destinations: Italy, Amalfi coastline
3 April 2023
Fair game: grouse shooting at Swinton Park
19 April 2023Very high tea
Located 35 floors up, TĪNG Lounge, at Shangri-La The Shard has mouth-watering treats to tickle the tastebuds this springtime
T he English poet, Sara Coleridge wrote about the change of weather according to the months of the year. The first official start date of spring was 20 March 2023 and this date marks the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere.
In her poem, The Garden Year, Coleridge writes:
March brings breezes loud and shrill,stirs the dancing daffodil.
April brings the primrose sweet,
Scatters daises at our feet.
TĪNG Lounge, at Shangri-La The Shard, London is celebrating spring with a themed ‘Spring of Love’ Afternoon Tea. From the moment you enter the Shangri-La The Shard, London, spring is certainly in the air, with glorious floral displays, a gorgeous flora heart and the TĪNG Lounge is adorned with wisteria.
Despite the grey skies outside, optimism of warmer weather, lighter nights and bright spring days fill the mind and make the soul soar in TĪNG Lounge. As you enter the view is utterly mesmerising; even on a cloudy, grey March day, the panoramic views of the winding River Thames, and London landmarks such as the Tower of London, the stunning Tower Bridge (my favourite bridge in London), The Gherkin, The Walkie-Talkie as well as Canary Wharf in the East can be clearly seen. The views are unparalleled, and the Spring of Love afternoon tea instantly invokes the joys of spring.
However I really should start with the savoury selection though – the pastries were sublime! They were so delicate and epitomised spring itself. The deep red entremets with mirror glaze which covered the rich white chocolate mousse with pomegranate and Szechuan pepper jelly was exactly that – so shiny you could almost see your reflection in it. It was adorned with a Disney-dazzling, psychedelic-coloured butterfly which was almost too pretty to eat.
From the moment you enter the Shangri-La The Shard, London, spring is certainly in the air, with glorious floral displays
The brightly coloured pistachio profiterole was a gorgeously bright green and topped with a cheery daisy. Spring personified.
The delicate finger sandwiches included fillings comprised of coronation chicken, smoked salmon and cucumber, prawn and Marie Rose sauce, and a luxurious and rich, truffle egg and cress which was utterly beguiling. The scones were warm, plump and meltingly delicious while the strawberry jam was bursting with fruit.
Saving the best for last is a habit of mine when it comes to food. I believe that the last morsel of any meal should always be something utterly enjoyable, ending the experience on a high.
At the beginning of the Spring of Love Afternoon Tea, we were presented with a white chocolate replica of The Shard. This was served on a glistening silver platter with dry ice and was spectacular to watch – it was pure theatre on a plate.
My dining partner and I purposefully left this until last and, to say it was delicious is an understatement. Filled with chocolate financier, a crunchy hazelnut layer and milk chocolate mousse that was decadently rich, it was nothing short of exquisite.
When indulging in this, I was reminded of a saying my nanny used to frequently tell me: ‘Eat what you like, like what you eat and everything in moderation.’ Naturally I put the ‘everything in moderation’ part out of my mind when eating something as scrumptious as this.
With over 50 different types of tea, we were guided by our exceptionally knowledgeable server, Elvis, who advised us on the teas to try based on our preferences.
I believe that the last morsel of any meal should always be something utterly enjoyable, ending the experience on a high
The service at TĪNG was impeccable, not overbearing or intrusive, just absolutely spot on. The staff are all exceptional which made our experience even more enjoyable.
If April 2023 is full of showers and you simply cannot wait for the May flowers, head to TĪNG Lounge at Shangri-La The Shard, London , where love and spring join, for an unforgettable afternoon tea experience.