“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea”- Henry James
There is something altogether
extraordinary about a cup of tea. Whether it’s observing the obviously
resilient nature of the tea bag, remaining unbreakable as the wrath of boiling
water unleashes itself; the depth and buried wisdom of the warm amber colour
that surrounds the inner sanctum of the tea cup or the majestic merger of the
two, distinct worlds of tea and milk that gently linger and intertwine their
essence to create the ultimate serene experience that is: a cup of tea.
There is little in the world that can provide
relief in the midst of a bad day but tea soothes the soul and heals wounds with
its warmth like no other earthly thing. And it is the importance of this
experience that Camellia’s Tea House embraces with all its might. From jasmine
and green to rose and peach, Camellia’s Tea House’s vast selection of tea
caters for just about everyone.
We happened to venture upon this exquisite haven
located on the top of Kingly Court, tucked away from the heaving masses of
Carnaby Street. We were standing in
Kingly Court, looking upwards to see if the sun was coming out or if the
weather was getting worse and spotted a couple sitting on a table outside an
unrecognised place. When we scanned some more, it appeared the quirky
exterior of this tucked away place beckoned. So off we went upstairs, excited
and curious and came across Camellia’s Tea House.
It was surprising to find that it was not a regular
tea house but a dimensional escape into a world of tea-ware and tea related
accessories sourced from all over the world as it also offered a bespoke
gift shop filled with the most delightful gifts including teas and herbs,
natural well being products and home-ware accessories. This was indeed a treat
as from stepping in the door, we realised we could take home with us the hidden
gem of the ‘Camellia experience’.
Beautiful pieces of timeless china and tea-ware ranging from antique to contemporary styles added a touch of elegance to this
otherwise quirky and vintage-chic tea spot; emitting an idyllic environment for
reflection and relaxation.
To top it off, Camellia’s Tea House had an amazing
selection of novel tea
and herbal infusion blends, tasty cakes and pastries as well as delectable
almond, pistachio and strawberries and cream macaroons! A macaroon always goes
down a treat. The wonderful thing about Camellia was the option of wheat and gluten free for strict dieters as well as
skinny options for those who are watching their waistline. They also offered
the option of swapping cream to crème fraiche and cake to an assortment of fruit
and other healthier delights!
Aside being spoilt for choice
with the tempting display of sweet treats on the counter, the menu offered a choice
of delicious cakes, tea sweets, finger sandwiches, scones with strawberry
jam and clotted cream and other sweet
delights to perfect the afternoon tea experience.
Last but
not least was the star of the show: tea. Camellia offered a choice of over 100 different pots of tea and it
was precisely this that had us stumped. A helpful waiter spotted our awe at the
wide range of teas offered and pointed us to the display of caddies and jars
where we were able to smell the aromas of uniquely brewed teas. Chocolate Tea,
Earl Grey Orange, Cherry Blossom, Mango…we didn’t think the many choices were
possible but indeed as Catherine Douzel
says,
“Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.”
We opted for a Chocolate Tea, Earl Grey
Orange Tea, a selection of macaroons and cake along with the classic afternoon tea
selection. When it arrived, we were not disappointed as the intoxicating
interior made for preparing us to sample the goods.
Suffice to say, I’ll be visiting Camellia’s Tea House a whole lot more and have personally challenged myself to try each tea by the end of the year!
Suffice to say, I’ll be visiting Camellia’s Tea House a whole lot more and have personally challenged myself to try each tea by the end of the year!
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| Scrumptious Afternoon Tea |
*This review has been done in terms of Carnaby Street's review competition!
Keep posted to find out if this review won :-)
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