English Afternoon Tea in Tokyo

When I was living in London, indulging in afternoon tea at one of the city's top hotels was almost like a rite of passage; something you had to do at least once in order to truly experience English culture and cuisine. A similar tea custom has developed in Tokyo, where afternoon tea sets are offered by many luxury hotels, as well as some restaurants and cafes. But this week only, you can get a truly authentic English afternoon tea experience at the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, thanks to a visit by famed British chef Gary Rhodes.

This is Rhodes’ second visit to Tokyo, and to mark the occasion he has created some special menus just for the Shangri-La. The afternoon tea set (¥4,900), served in the Lobby Lounge on the 28th floor, consists of two multi-tiered serving platters packed with finger sandwiches, cakes, and muffins. Those who order the set can choose their preferred tea from the wide selection of black, green, and herbal blends. I opted for the hotel’s signature brew, which is smooth and mild, and went well with the various foods.

The sandwich selection in the English afternoon tea set is composed of quail egg, cress and mayonnaise; smoked salmon; cucumber and chive creme fraiche; lemon chicken; and roast beef. Each is cut into a thin finger that is just the right size to satisfy the taste buds while still leaving room for the sweets. Warm savories include a Scottish salmon and parsley fishcake, and a cream cheese, onion and herb croquet monsieur, which makes the perfect transition item before moving onto the cakes.

The sweets platter is topped with bite-sized raspberry bakewell tartlets and egg custard tarts, followed by some of the most delicious homemade scones I’ve ever tried. Warm and light, they are even better when smeared with strawberry jam and clotted cream. The bottom tier is where the muffins and mini cakes reside: chocolate muffins, orange and blueberry cake, and honey dundee cake. Of these, the orange and blueberry was my favorite, but there is also something very typically British about the fruit-packed dundee cake.

It should be noted that the sizes of each of the items included in the tea have been scaled to suit Japanese tastes, meaning you can eat the entire set and still not feel like you’ve overindulged. But if you do feel yourself starting to slow down, be sure to save room for the final item on the menu: the red berry Eton mess. Rhodes’ version of this mixture of strawberries and cream is served in a small glass and topped with a single meringue. With just the right mixture of sweet and tart, it makes the perfect ending to a very distinguished English afternoon tea.

The traditional English afternoon tea is available at the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo now through Friday, April 24. Today through Thursday, April 23, Rhodes will also be doing a dinner course (four- and five-course options available, priced at ¥13,000 and ¥15,000 per person) consisting of modern takes on traditional English favorites, such as duck breast with red cabbage jam, and a lobster and truffle macaroni and cheese.

The Deets

Address: Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-6739-7550

Photos by Kiyoshi Sakasai.