Afternoon Tea for the fashion conscious at the Berkley Hotel

Prêt-à-Portea

Inspired by catwalk designs, served with fabulous china tea sets, the menu changes every 6 months. Tea with Mary Kate is looking forward to the new Spring/Summer 2012 afternoon tea!

The fire is roaring in the grate but who could have imaged that there could be such suspense and danger sitting by the fire and having a cup of tea?

A cup of tea with Sherlock - Holmes pours his guest a brew - image courtesy of BBC

In the 2nd BBC series Sherlock, Reichenbach Falls featured a splendid scene where Sherlock, anticipating the arrival of his arch enemy Jim Moriarty, puts the kettle on, and you have guessed it – makes a pot of tea! How civilised I thought, as Jim is rather an unpleasant person. It felt right that the modern day Sherlock still drinks his tea from a cup and saucer. Quite frankly, my dears, there are some things that really do not change.

Sherlock’s razor sharp logic and sometimes unfathomable reasoning for agreeing to take a case frequently reminds John Watson how very annoying he is

Nevertheless, you cannot help but be drawn to this moody intellectual violin playing character. Rather than the Victorian interpretation as originally written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the BBC have rather cleverly brought Sherlock up to date. Although rather poignantly, the modern day John Watson has returned injured from war in Afganistan just as the original book, gone is Sherlocks pipe and in are nicotine patches, with hackney cabs replacing their horse drawn 19th century equivalents.

The beautiful tea set by Ali Miller featured in the scene was sold out that night

Although  thank goodness she assures that more can be had, with patience my dears.

Beautiful Ali Miller tea pot and cups from her UK tea set

Inspiration for a Sherlock Holmes Gentleman’s Tea

This gentlemans tea is homely, in contrast to the danger and suspense that Sherlock is usually surrounded by. Prepared by Mrs Hudson who rather amusingly we know will have needed to search discriminately in the fridge for the supplies for this tea, avoiding the gruesome specimens that Sherlock stores there. Create a menu to hand to your guests and attach an interesting Sir Arther Conan Doyle quote from favourite your book – I adore “Elementary my Dear Watson” as it usually comes at the point where Sherlock Holmes has solved the crime, and Watson is still very much still baffled and in the dark.

Gentlemans High Tea Menu

Rounds of strong cheese and pickle sandwiches on white bread

Warm mini salmon fish cakes with dill sauce

Crumpets toasted by the fire, and spread thickly with butter

Battenberg if there is an interest in something sweet

And of course leaf tea –  a current delightful discovery is Jeniers Assam  - a malty full bodied brew, just perfect for this gentlemans high tea.

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Sherlock with tea sensibilities

Beautiful Indian Tree Vintage China tea cup - Anchor china

Tea with Mary Kates review of Assam

The brown & green leaves smell sweet and woody. From the Borengajuli estate, this is a second flush flowery broken orange pekoe (FBOP). It is full bodied and strong with soft malty flavours.  A proper cup of tea, it feels sustaining and a real pick me up. Without question, this is a tea that Tea with Mary Kate advises to be taken with milk.

This Scottish based company is looking to provide a quality product and service in the tradition of pioneers like Sir Thomas Lipton. Liquid biscuit in a cup, Assam is one of Tea with Mary Kates favourite teas. My thanks to the lovely team at Jenier for the opportunity to taste their Borengajuli FBOP Assam.

Other Jenier Tea reviews:

A review of Jeniers Scottish Tea Blend

This Scottish based company is looking to provide a quality product and service in the tradition of pioneers like Sir Thomas Lipton. I have been really delighted from the first contact to the very prompt delivery of a range of samples to try.

The perfect vintage china tea cup for Scottish breakfast Tea

There is nothing quite like sipping the tea from the perfect vintage cup

Tea is an experience, a journey, time for you, and quite frankly, a vintage tea cup makes the whole tea experience! That moment of contemplation of tea and cup, and the expectation of the experience is almost as lovely, almost, as that first warm, amazing sip, smelling the aroma, steam rising as you relax into thinking about your second cup.

Tea with Mary Kates review of Jeniers Scottish Breakfast Blend tea.

Jeniers Scottish breakfast tea is a bright and bold full mouthful of tea. The lovely aroma of the brown curled leaves is wonderfully traditional. A mix of Assam, China Black Keemun Gold and a Chingwo County Orange Pekoe, it smells like a proper old fashioned blend and brews to a rich flavourful tea that has just the right balance of depth without being too malty. I would recommend it needs to be taken with milk. My dears, it feels just as you would imagine it needs to be – warm and sufficient to sustain you on a cold dreak Scottish morning. Ay, it is a grand cuppa indeed Jenier.

Tea with Mary Kate was delighted to discover that Postcard Teas have taken this to a whole new level. Instead of just ordering tea, send a Tea postcard! All the teas have amazing images and equally amazing names – who could resist Master Matsumoto’s Supernatural Green .

Order Darjeeling first flush via Tea mail from Postcard Tea

The idea of connecting the aesthetic and your own personal message with each specific tea is really special. A wonderful and unique idea, I have included 2 of my favourite postcards. Tea with Mary Kate would be delighted to receive a Tea postcard via Tea mail anytime.

Order Tea Flower Tea via Tea Mail from Postcard Tea

My dears, there is more good news! Jenier world of tea has just the perfectly named brew to serve this valentines day

 Lovers Leap Ceylon tea  available as loose leaf orthodox or in a delightful pouch. Described as a truly delightful, medium bodied, flavoursome tea from one of the best tea gardens in Sri Lanka, this Scottish based company’s focus is on quality. Jenier assure us that as it is grown at high altitude amongst steep hills, we can be sure of tasting a wonderful piquant cup with real Ceylon character. Well, I will need to take their word on it now with a prospect of a future order to sample this tempting tea.

For more Valentines day inspiration, look no further than:

Thoughtful musing on a valentines day Tea

A valentines day tea to fall in love with

What can I say – Tea with Mary Kate has found the perfect gift for all you Tea lovers out there – enjoy!

One sunny afternoon, I took him up on his very kind offer of an afternoon of tea tasting. It was really excellent fun and very educational.

My favourite tea of the afternoon is his black Rose congou tea.

Delightfully fragrant, it looks as good as it smells with beautiful rose petals dispersed amongst the thin twisted very black tea leaves. The tea has depth with a perfect balance of rose blended with just the right amount of black china tea.  The end result is a delightful flavour combination that is far from too sweet although rather importantly, the fragrant aroma of the rose still comes through.

The great thing about this excellent tea is that can be taken with or without milk, though if truth be told I have it with milk most of the time. What Tea with Mary Kate will not accommodate however is the tea being drunk in anything other than a gorgeous vintage china tea cup. There are standards to be maintained, my dears, I am sure you agree.

Rose Congou Leaf tea in a vintage tea cup

Clipper Tea Cosy Knitting Kit

I have always loved the art work, not to mention the tea from Clipper, so I was delighted to discover this Clipper Tea cosy Knitting kit. I have been unable to resist spreading the news the second I discovered it. Just perfect for this cold winter day, Tea with Mary Kate just loves it!

As you will suspect readers, Tea with Mary Kate will need very little excuse to dust off her vintage china to celebrate this splendid occasion. What more perfect way to join the jubilation than to create, yes, you have guessed it, a Royal Afternoon Tea.

Royal Afternoon Tea to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee

Queen ElizabethII will hold 4 garden parties, and have tea for a staggering 34000!

Now while I am far from proposing organising an event on quite that scale, there are some splendid events planned in June to coincide with 60 years after Queens Elizabeths coronation.

The Big Jubilee Lunch

On Sunday 3rd June, 2012, there is the Big Jubilee Lunch where everyone will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the celebrations. How terribly British! I adore the idea of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch – and a traditional afternoon tea is just perfect for it. Organised by the Big Lunch http://www.thebiglunch.com, do make sure that you have your bunting at the ready.

Diamond Jubilee Royal Afternoon Tea

Royal Jubilee Afternoon Tea - Inspired by a Vintage coronation Tea cup

While it is a Royal tea, Queen Elizabeth has always been a terribly practical, no nonsense sort of Queen so the focus is a celebration of traditional British fare without too much embellishment. I have themed the royal jubilee tea around this vintage coronation tea cup. White table linen, with red, white and blue flowers to decorate. I am planning to fill vintage tea cups with home grown flowers from Sarah Ravens beautiful celebrate Britain flower seed Mix, Draft your own afternoon tea menu, and decorate it with splendid blue red and white ribbons, and sparkly “diamonds”.

Beautiful flowers for Diamond Jubilee Royal Afternoon Tea - Celebrate Britain mix form Sarah Raven

Diamond Jubilee Royal Afternoon Tea Menu

A selection of gorgeous sandwiches

Cucumber on white bread

Egg mayonnaise with a hint of garlic salt and lashings of cress on brown bread

Cheddar cheese with homemade pickle on wholemeal bread

Something Sweet

Scones with jam and cornish clotted cream

Cup of tea cake spread thickly with butter

Tea cups filled with warmed apple crumble – with traditional custard

Yorkshire Gold leaf tea

For more inspiration, there is Tea with Mary Kates  Top Tips on how to Create the very Best Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea, another amazing Royal event.

Other Events to Celebrate with the Queen

Cecil Beatons portrait of Queen Elizabeth Coronation

Cecil Beatons Portraits at the V & A

An exhibition of Cecil Beatons wonderful portraits of Queen Elizabeth II will be held at  Victoria & Albert Museum on 8 February – 22 April 2012.

Diamond Jubilee River Pageant

if you fancy an outdoor event, the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, on 3 June 2012, will be one of the main events of a four-day bank holiday weekend marking her 60-year reign. The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the flotilla, with the Queen the head the fleet, and  including vessels from the UK, Commonwealth, and around the world. The flotilla is expected to be seven-and-a-half miles long and will feature a mix of private and commercially owned historic and modern boats – ranging from rowing boats and sailing ships to steamers, wooden launches and larger motorised craft.http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/

Time is fleeting and moments are so very precious. All too soon they are gone. Tea with Mary Kates intends to celebrate this is a once in a life time event with a very British afternoon tea – how will you be celebrating?