Acclaimed Pastry Chef Jessica Préalpato together with The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in Knightsbridge have created a unique Afternoon Tea experience, A Tribute to Nature. Quite simply, this is the best afternoon tea in London. The quality and thought that has gone into each and every element of the experience is world class and something not seen before in the London afternoon tea scene.
Jessica has completely redesigned the hotel’s pastry offering and creating an exciting new take on Afternoon Tea, inspired by the flora of the iconic Kew Gardens which has more than 50,000 different plants in its living collection and over 7 million preserved specimens. Jessica is most noted for being awarded the title of World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2019 and Pastry Chef of the Year by Gault et Millau in 2020 and this is her first project in London.
Desseralité
Desseralité involves preserving an ingredient’s ‘naturality’ to best express its innate flavour, which could also be applied to pastry. Jessica’s desserts are an expression of the highest form of each ingredient she uses, with every element on the plate having a purpose. True to her signature style Desseralité, a mixture of the words dessert and naturalité, Jessica will preserve and enhance the entirety of the whole fruits by adding a carefully selected layer of flavours, without compromising the key ingredient and its natural taste. This style also reduces the amount of sugar and packs everything full of natural flavours.
Jessica takes the approach to this experience like a scientist – testing and tasting everything with a focus on the complexity of flavours, but with a clean and simple look. Working with seasonal, locally sourced produce, the new menu will explore and celebrate the best ingredients available in England and is a tribute to both Kew Gardens and to nature.
The Afternoon Tea is very much a non-traditional menu with unexpected pairings served on Raynaud China beginning with some snacks, savouries, a selection of four mini scones with matching preserves, and concluding with a beautiful array of well thought out patisseries and cakes.
Savouries
The afternoon tea will feature a selection of delicious savoury sandwiches including a savoury truffle croissant filled with duck egg and black truffle, H. Forman & Son smoked salmon with pickled shallots, wild garlic crème fraiche, and more. A herby palate cleanser then prepares you for the pastries and cakes.
Pastries
Expect to be stunned with pastries including a peanut Breton shortbread with fresh peanut butter, fermented milk mousse, salted butter caramel and peanut dust, a candied rhubarb shortbread pastry with fennel and ginger marmalade, a honey infused madeleine and other sweet treats.
Scones and Tea
There will also be the chance to try unique scones such as a dried nettle scone with strawberry marmalade, charcoal rosemary scone with rosemary wood-smoked mascarpone and more.
Jessica’s Afternoon Tea will be accompanied by a selection of authentic teas and Champagnes. There is a Tea Sommelier on hand to guide you through the extensive tea menu. You can choose from a long list of teas including Pu-erh (traditional in China as it is the only tea that is oxidised and fermented), black teas, oolong teas, white teas and of course green teas. Here you can try one of the most exclusive teas, Ceremonial Grade Matcha that is expertly prepared at the table which has the highest grade of Matcha and is extremely rare.
For everyone that experiences A Tribute to Nature this summer, The Carlton Tower will offer two tickets to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew to celebrate the upcoming Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
A Tribute to Nature classic Afternoon Tea starts at £75.
To discover more, visit: jumeirah.com
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Imagery courtesy of The Carlton Tower.