Afternoon tea, five ways

Scones with jam and clotted cream, dainty cucumber sandwiches and mini desserts have always been part of British afternoon tea tradition and they are all delightful. However, here in Asia we have learnt to add Asian touches to the classic. Guru lists a few places where you can enjoy a lovely afternoon with delights from our side of the world.

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Singaporean Afternoon Tea

At Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit

Step into the light-filled dining space of Tuxedo Espresso Bar on the ground floor of Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit. Chef Kan Bright San, a Malaysian-native, prepares Singaporean and Peranakan favourites for the newly-launched Singaporean afternoon tea.

Expect a variety of desserts: subtly sweet kueh dadar (a sticky mixture of palm sugar and grated coconut wrapped in pandan crepes), gula melaka (palm sugar) steamed cakes served with dark palm sugar syrup, egg tarts and choux au craquelin stuffed with mild durian custard. All these items are best washed down with an iced tea sweetened with condensed milk. If you prefer lighter drinks, choose from a selection of TWG teas. The pink flamingo (a blend of green and hibiscus tea), with its tart, fruity tone, is highly recommended.

The savoury items presented are chicken and sardine curry puffs, chwee kueh (steamed rice cakes served with preserved radish), two portions of nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaves and two bowls of laksa that come with fish cakes, a boiled egg and dried bean curd.

The Singaporean afternoon tea is served daily from noon to 4.30pm and is priced at B1,080++ for two or B1,380++ with two glasses of prosecco.

Tuxedo Espresso Bar, Ground Floor of Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Sukhumvit Road / Call 02-090-7888, visit www.carltonhotel.co.th.

High Chai

At Cuppachai

Cuppachai has reimagined familiar Western afternoon tea treats and given them an Indian twist. The result: playful goodies like gulab jamun cheesecake, peanut butter & jelly barfi (a dense milk-based sweet), mango madeleine and earl grey & date scone, served with a sweet-scented hibiscus-cinnamon jam.

Joining the afternoon tea set are classic Indian desserts, such as nankhatai (Indian shortbread cookies) and coconut ladoos (a round-shaped sweet made using gram flour, sugar and ghee). Savoury items served include three sandwiches made using housemade pav (a soft and puffy Indian bread roll). Each sandwich is stuffed with a different filling: homemade paneer with onion chutney, mashed avocado with raita and Coronation chicken, which has a mild curry flavour.

To quench your thirst, the cafe's signature masala chai is highly recommended. It's perfectly spiced and milky and no sugar is added. There are also other good teas for you to choose from and all are organic.

Cuppachai's afternoon tea is priced at B599 and available by reservation one day before. However, customers can ask for it to be served any time during the day, between 10.30am-10pm.

Cuppachai, Sukhumvit 31 (Soi Sawatdi) / Call 02-662-1179, visit fb.com/cuppachaibkk.

Chinese Afternoon Tea

At Yao Restaurant & Rooftop Bar

On any given day, diners who go to Yao Restaurant & Rooftop Bar clamour for Sichuan-style fried chicken and roasted duck deliciously paired with melon and mango. However, not too many know about their unique tea experience, which is available only on weekends.

As one might expect from a restaurant with a contemporary take on Shanghainese and Cantonese cuisines, the afternoon tea spread features items like shrimp and cordyceps dumplings topped with foie gras and deep-fried cream cheese and crab meat dumplings. Equally impressive is the bright collection of desserts, which includes mango macarons, white chocolate mousse with chrysanthemum jelly, chilled pang da hai (malva nut) tea with sliced sea coconuts, aloe vera jelly with bird's nest and black tea scones served with lychee jam and whipped cream.

Diners can also expect classic savoury dishes such as deep-fried snow fish with sweet soy sauce, pan-fried fish and chive dumplings, along with steamed shrimp and chicken dumplings.

The afternoon tea set comes with a beautiful selection of imported caffeine-free flower teas. They include Easter lily tea from the Himalayan mountain range, rose tea from Germany and lotus tea from Taiwan. If you prefer a stronger taste, there are many Chinese teas for you to choose from.

The high tea service is available on Saturdays and Sundays at Yao Restaurant, from 2.30-5pm and at Yao Rooftop Bar, from 4-5pm. Price is B1,288++ for two.

Yao Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, 32nd Floor, Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, Surawong Road / Call 02-088-5666, visit www.yaobangkok.com.

Thai Afternoon Tea

At Gingerbread House Cafe

Gingerbread House Cafe, which operates in a 106-year-old house, is a dessert-focused establishment that is known for its picture-worthy Thai sweet treats that often come in eye-popping colours. The cafe now serves a lovely afternoon tea set on an elegant golden platter, focusing on classic Thai desserts.

Customers will enjoy tong yod (golden drops of egg yolk boiled in simple syrup), kanom chun (a steamed, layered treat that is made using rice flour, coconut milk and sugar), kanom thuai (coconut milk custard) and lod chong noodles served with a scoop of coconut ice-cream. Apart from this, diners can select four more goodies from a selection of cakes, ice creams and teas, to complete the set. The meal costs B599 and feeds four.

Mango lovers can opt for the Mango sticky rice afternoon tea set (B599), which comes with two generous portions of the treat, presented on a golden two-tiered stand. Guests will also get to pick three more items.

The afternoon tea service runs daily, from 11am-8pm.

Gingerbread House Cafe, Dinsor Road / Call 097-229-7021, visit fb.com/house2456.

Japanese Afternoon Tea

At Hotel Nikko Bangkok

Overcome your longing for Japan through this Japanese high tea served at Curve 55, the lobby lounge of Hotel Nikko Bangkok. The laid-back Japanese ambiance and the sound of Japanese being spoken by guests in the lobby will remind you of being in Japan. Further that sensation by ordering a set of afternoon tea, which comes with Japanese beef curry tarts and assorted rice rolls, with a salmon and ikura topping and a tamago and foie gras topping.

Desserts include Japanese cheesecake pudding, lemon yoghurt cake and cream cheese tart topped with fresh gooseberry slices. To drink, guests can have a steaming pot of aromatic flower tea or Mariage Frères tea.

The afternoon tea is available daily, from noon to 5pm. A set for two persons is B1,090++ and booking has to be a day in advance.

Curve 55, 1st Floor, Hotel Nikko Bangkok, Sukhumvit 55 / Call 02-080-2111, visit www.nikkobangkok.com.