While exploring London with my family this June, we attempted to fulfill some quintessential British trademarks during our journey. While this included a variety of historical landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Royal Jewels, etc, we also wanted to become regular tea-drinkers and participants in the traditional afternoon tea. During our roughly two week excursion, our search for afternoon tea was often thwarted by lack of information or unlucky coincidences. What we thought was the tea- drinking capital of the world was becoming the hardest place to find some Earl Grey and scones with clotted cream. However after a long day of searching and asking and denying ourselves food for the sake of afternoon tea, we found a second story tea spot that was open. At last!
Our long journey was worth it because we were entertained with a beautiful window table overlooking Hyde Park (with Kensington Palace) and delicious foods and teas that left us incredibly satisfied. While enjoying our teas, our server, Luigi, explained to us his experience with tea and hot drinks that made him an expert of his trade. Initially, he became well-versed with wines and knowledgeable of a drink that even most wine drinkers can't say know much about. He eventually transitioned into coffees and even studied with professional experts to refine his palate and actually catch "the notes of an unspecified flower that can be identified as an afternote". As a fake hot drink connoisseur myself, I can thoroughly attest to Luigi's depth of knowledge and amazing ability to describe and indentify wines, coffees and teas alike to perfection. He also revealed to us the competativeness of this industry. In fact, there is a very prestigious and difficult school that teaches mastery of teas. It is extremely difficult to get involved in the tea industry because it has been an industry that has been profitable and popular since the beginning of trade. I will never drink tea the same way.
Our long journey was worth it because we were entertained with a beautiful window table overlooking Hyde Park (with Kensington Palace) and delicious foods and teas that left us incredibly satisfied. While enjoying our teas, our server, Luigi, explained to us his experience with tea and hot drinks that made him an expert of his trade. Initially, he became well-versed with wines and knowledgeable of a drink that even most wine drinkers can't say know much about. He eventually transitioned into coffees and even studied with professional experts to refine his palate and actually catch "the notes of an unspecified flower that can be identified as an afternote". As a fake hot drink connoisseur myself, I can thoroughly attest to Luigi's depth of knowledge and amazing ability to describe and indentify wines, coffees and teas alike to perfection. He also revealed to us the competativeness of this industry. In fact, there is a very prestigious and difficult school that teaches mastery of teas. It is extremely difficult to get involved in the tea industry because it has been an industry that has been profitable and popular since the beginning of trade. I will never drink tea the same way.