Spring High Tea at the Mount Nelson:

The story goes that Anne, the Duchess of Bedford, would request a light sandwich in the late afternoon because she got hungry during the long gap between meals. She invited her friends to join her and so it became tradition.  By the end of the 19th century, the Cape of Good Hope became a sought-after holiday destination for Europe’s elegant explorers, who stayed at the Mount Nelson Hotel, and so began the hotel’s tradition of Afternoon Tea.

Having experienced the world-class High Tea at the Mount Nelson many years ago, I was expecting a repeat performance of the elegant remembered memories of the past. There were no surprises when we stepped into the entrance of the Pink Nelly and were surrounded by the old world colonial splendor.  Before us, in the main tea lounge, the Winsor table was set with a stunning array of stylish and sophisticated handmade savoury and sweet tea treats - both tempting and delicious.

The sun streamed in through the windows from the terrace, and the gentle hum of chatter from the guests who had already arrived rose and fell to the rhythm of the chamber music playing in the background.  We were shown to our table on the terrace and offered the new speciality loose leaf tea menus.

Now, I’m not a tea drinker, but what a surprise! Delicate glass teapots with infusers were presented to us, and with over 23 tea blends to choose from we were overwhelmed with choices. Our waiter expertly advised us to try the Earl Grey Blue to complement our choices of savoury treats, followed by the Mount Nelson Special House Blend green tea once we had finished a selection of sweet treats.

Afternoon tea is definitely a must, but booking is essential. The tea lineup for the months to come is as follows:

September:     Floral Fantasy (celebrating Spring taking inspiration from the hotel’s garden)

October:          A Return to the Classics (classic teatime treats with a contemporary twist)

November:      Fruit and the Spice Route (fresh flavours inspired by the seasons’ best)

December:      Cool Yule (celebrating Christmas with delicacies from around the globe)

Web site:  http://www.mountnelson.co.za/web/ocap/afternoon_tea.jsp