Afternoon Tea at Harrods

It is harder to think of two bigger institutions in British life than Harrods and afternoon tea. A cricket match played on the lawn of Buckingham Palace might come close, but it would struggle to encapsulate the qualities associated with sipping tea in Knightsbridge’s prestigious store.

In order to celebrate the unveiling of The Perfume Diaries, an exhibition detailing the history of fragances and scents, Harrods’ Georgian Restaurant has come up with a new afternoon tea menu, tying in with the different smells featured in the exhibit.

Like all good additions to British culture, it is the brainchild of someone born outside the country. The man behind the menu is Eric Lanlard, twice winner of the Continental Patissier of the Year. He has put together a distinctive and charming menu, composed of six fascinating creations, each infused with scents and smells that you would expect to find in most perfumes.

Served up with Harrods’ own blend of tea, the six pastries are a riveting mix of styles and flavours, taking in fruits, pipettes and even edible diamonds. When the cakestand was first brought to my companion and I, we were unsure of how to begin taking these picturesque pieces apart. In the end, we started with Grace, a small loaf cake that mixed up oranges, almond and lavender. Biting into it, I was taken aback at the potency of sensation – not just in the taste but in the tremendously evocative collection of scents.

Next up was a Little Violet, a small tartlet that came with a red berry mousse and was distinct due to its eponymous scent. It was very enjoyable due to its abundance of fruit, the powerful violet smell and the suprise of edible glitter on top.

The one pudding that did not quite match the quality of the others was the Dessert Tagine, a creamy rice pudding. The presentation was very quaint, with the dish coming in a tagine dish only centimetres in diameter. The consistency of the tagine was very good but it didn’t deliver the olfactory experience the other parts did, even though there was an intriguing mix of musk, cinnamon and pistachio.

However, the three remaining creations were outstanding. From the Shot St. Honore, a concoction featuring meringue, raspberries and a pipette of lemongrass and coconut; to the Vendome, which celebrated its jewellery connections with edible diamonds; to the Larme de Jasmine, a teardrop-shaped slice of chocolate indulgence; this was no ordinary afternoon tea. Of course, this sort of finesse does not come cheap. Coming in at £30 for two or £40 with a glass of champagne included, this may not be in everyone’s price bracket. But if you want to experience something extraordinary and unique, the Perfume Diaries Afternoon Tea comes highly recommended.

The Perfume Diaries Afternoon Tea is availble from the Georgian Restaurant until Saturday 2 October at:

Harrods
87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
SW1X 7XL

Tel: 020 7730 1234