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The Star
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
German flavours for afternoon tea
SERVED only in five-star hotels and in Malaysia for the past 20 years, afternoon tea lovers would almost certainly have heard of this German luxury label. To see the array of Ronnefeldt teas and infusions that are available locally, head over to The Lobby Lounge at The Ritz Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. There are no less than 33 flavours. Among them, the observant will notice The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur Blend, which has been made exclusively for the hotel to pair with the salmon sandwiches in its afternoon tea sets. Described as having a smooth, creamy taste with a natural sweetness, the blend carries slight hints of lemongrass and jasmine. It has also been described as having a nice aroma with an alluring and 'addictive' quality. Jan-Berend Holzapfel, the tea label's owner, who was in Kuala Lumpur, introduced a few more flavours. Making its debut for the first time in Malaysia is the Colombia Especial and Cacao, which is a blend of organic Colombian black tea with cacao husk. Coming in with a rich fragrance of maple syrup and vanilla, Holzapfel said it was the red soil, rich with iron, that gave the tea its unique flavour. To pair with this Colombian blend is a dark chocolate tart with hazelnut praline that unleashes an earthy and nutty aroma from the tea. Before going on with the next four tastings, Holzapfel, 52, who inherited the business from his father, explained how it came to be recognised as a luxury tea label. 'For one, the teas that we buy are sourced from tea gardens that have been supplying Ronnefeldt for three generations. 'Secondly, only the youngest leaves from the best of season are used,' he said. 'And thirdly, the products have gone through rigorous testing for pesticides and organic standards to meet criteria set by the US, Australia and Japan, where the allowed pesticide residue is 1/10 million parts.' Holzapfel says to be a tea taster takes seven years of training. However, the ultimate criteria is in maintaining the continuation in taste, regardless of season and weather. 'For that, we have a team of tea tasters who do not smoke and drink to preserve their sensitive palates. 'Our oldest taster, who is 46, has 25 years of experience. 'And to be a tea taster takes seven years of training,' said Holzapfel. It was at this juncture, that the No. 1 Rainfall in Paralai, a flavoured black tea from South India was introduced. Infused with heather flowers, coriander seeds and strawberry pieces, it carries a heady fragrance of roses and the fruity notes of peach. A spinach quiche was chosen as the afternoon tea item of choice to go with it. Next was the No. 8 Clouds Over Baiyun Shan, which is a special blend to commemorate the tea label's 200th year anniversary. As its name implies, the blackberry flavoured green tea with its slight traces of mint and Chinese herbs, evokes the image of a mystic temple on a cloudy, flowery hill. As it is also slightly spicy to the palate, it was decided that a creamy mushroom and chicken sandwich would be paired. A raspberry mousse was chosen to pair with the No. 2 Sunrise Over Cederberg, a herbal infusion of rooibos and rosemary because of its prominent natural sweetness. Ronnefeldt teas for The Lobby Lounge afternoon tea set. Butter scones with raspberry jam and Devon clotted cream were paired with a fruit infusion of Tibetan goji berries and moringa, aptly called No.3 Winds of Tibet. It was divulged that the above fruit and herbal infusions are the most ideal companions for sweet items like mooncakes. The Lobby Lounge and Ronnefeldt are hosting an afternoon tea set promotion until June 30, from noon to 6pm. The price is RM160++ for two diners, which includes any one selection of these four blends – No.1 Rainfall in Paralai, No. 8 Clouds Over Baiyun Shan, No. 2 Sunrise Over Cederberg and No.3 Winds of Tibet. THE LOBBY LOUNGE, Level 1, The Ritz-Carlton, 168, Jalan Imbi, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 018-623 0036. Business hours: 11am-11pm, daily. This is the writer's personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
Tatler Asia
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Mother's Day 2025: The best afternoon tea sets to pamper mum
2. The Grand Lobby, Raffles Singapore Above Bubbles and clotted cream in Singapore's most iconic setting at The Grand Lobby (Photo: Raffles Singapore) Mum deserves bubbles and clotted cream in Singapore's most iconic setting on Mother's Day. The Grand Lobby drips in colonial grandeur, and there's nothing quite like enjoying a luxurious afternoon tea in the legendary setting. Expect a three-tiered silver stand laden with elegant finger sandwiches, decadent sweets and The Grand Lobby's signature scones, served warm with proper clotted cream and delectable rose petal jam. Like a cherry on top of the cake, this afternoon tea comes with a glass of Billecart-Salmon champagne. Or sparkling tea, if you're feeling particularly virtuous. Available only on May 10 and 11. Raffles Singapore 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673 3. Lobby Bar, The Singapore Edition Above Stylish floral-themed afternoon tea at Lobby Bar (Photo: The Singapore Edition) Every mum deserves a seriously stylish afternoon tea. At The Singapore Edition's Lobby Bar, a place so chic it practically sips its own tea, relish the floral-themed menu stuffed with exquisite French pastries, alongside foie gras tarts, mushroom croquettes, Oscietra caviar-topped smoked lobster rolls, and a charming cart that prepares your affogato tableside. That's not all. Executive pastry chef Alex Chong sweetens the deal with a specially curated cake for mums to take home. Available from May 8 to 11. The Singapore Edition 38 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249731 4. The Lobby Lounge, Intercontinental Singapore Above The Lobby Lounge teams up with Comvita, weaving premium New Zealand mānuka nectar into every treat (Intercontinental Singapore) This year's Mother's Day afternoon tea at Intercontinental Singapore's The Lobby Lounge is less about fussy finger sandwiches and more about thoughtful indulgence. The culinary team's delicate creations, crafted with premium New Zealand manuka nectar through a collaboration with Comvita, prove that indulgence can be both delicious and healthy. Blessing each treat with all-important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, the high tea features elegant savouries like foie gras and duck rillettes on brioche and clover honey-miso glazed salmon; sweets include a heavenly chrysanthemum honey pavlova and a delicate honey redcurrant mousse. On May 10 and 11, all dine-in guests are entitled to a complimentary Polaroid print as a timeless keepsake with mum. Available from May 1 to 12. The Lobby Lounge Address: 80 Middle Road, Intercontinental Singapore, S(188966) 5. 5 on 25 Above A refined Yum Cha alternative by 5 on 25 to celebrate mom (Photo: Andaz Singapore) While not strictly an 'afternoon tea' in the traditional sense, this refined yum cha is a take on a beloved Cantonese ritual that offers a delicious alternative for celebrating mum. So ditch the clotted cream for scallop siew mai, xiao long bao and quirky steamed beetroot dumplings. There are even nourishing soups to choose from, from the rich braised black cod fish soup, double-boiled chicken soup, to the vegetarian hot and sour soup. Then come the signatures of golden, addictive deep-fried duck roll, braised pork belly and flavourful wok-fried dishes. Wash it all down with a refined dessert and premium Chinese teas. Available every weekend. 6. Gingerlily, Hilton Singapore Orchard Above The caviar-themed Mother's Day afternoon tea at Gingerlily (Photo: Hilton Singapore Orchard) Forget dry scones, Gingerlily's adding serious sparkle and caviar to this Mother's Day afternoon tea. Revel in caviar-topped savouries like crème fraiche vol-au-vents , elegant egg and caviar sandwiches, lobster and crab croissant and torched Wagyu nigiri. Sweeten the deal with yuzu kumquat roll and Tahitian vanilla scones. And because they're clearly not messing about, you can even opt for floral cocktails (or mocktails) made with caviar distillate. Mums who dine in on May 11 will also receive a chic mother-of-pearl spoon to continue their caviar appreciation back home. Available from May 9 to the end of June. Gingerlily Address: 333 Orchard Road, Hilton Singapore Orchard, S(238867) Read more: Mother's Day 2025: 5 best luxury hotels to stay in Asia, for every type of mum 7. Atlas Above Afternoon tea experience in the breathtaking Art Deco space (Photo: Atlas) It doesn't always have to be a boozy affair at award-winning Atlas. This Mother's Day, spoil mum with the opportunity to sit back in that breathtaking Art Deco space, and pretend she's in a different era, and simply enjoy the moment. While you're at it, pick at a dainty selection of sweet and savoury treats, handcrafted to order. Sip on teas from a meticulously curated collection, spanning speciality black, oolong, white, green, and tisane infusions. Just remember to book at least 24 hours ahead. And if you ever decide that she needs some champagne or a perfectly stirred martini, know that you can depend on the folks at Atlas to sort that request out. Available from Monday to Saturday. Atlas Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, S(188778)
