Here I sit, ready to enjoy an elegant afternoon tea at the Charleston Place Hotel's Thoroughbred Club in Charleston, South Carolina, and I have to admit that I don't know my Formosa Oolong from my Gunpowder Green. Perusing the menu, with its dozen or so choices, I'm stymied, puzzled, and tea-impaired.
Manager Danielle Girard kindly rescues me from my leaf lapse. "If you want something that's not bitter and has a great flavor, try the Ti Quan Yin," she says. "It's one of our most popular." That hurdle overcome, I gratefully settle back and enjoy one of the most delightful experiences this side of the Atlantic.
Pour It On
I choose the Classic Charleston Tea ($19), which consists of a pot of tea and three courses of bite-size treats: an assortment of tea sandwiches followed by scones and crumpets and ending with cakes, tarts, and tea cookies. The South of Broad Tea ($24) adds caviar and smoked salmon, along with a glass of Champagne.
Send in the Scones
The tea arrives, delicious and fragrant. Sandwiches, fresh scones, and crumpets follow, along with whipped cream, lemon curd, and strawberries.
The crumpet, which looks like an English muffin but tastes like a pancake, makes a wonderful accompaniment to the lemon curd. The tender, bite-size almond scone is so good, one more must be enjoyed. The last course--a handful of tiny desserts--would be the perfect ending for any tea party. A dainty cafe mocha éclair, miniature tarts of fruit and chocolate, coconut macaroon, and pistachio muffin call for more tea, which appears with calming, civilized regularity.
"We serve afternoon tea six days a week," says Danielle. "Come back anytime." I vow to do just that. Who knows? Maybe next time I'll try the Gunpowder Green.
Charleston Place Afternoon Tea: Thoroughbred Club, 205 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401; (843) 722-4900 or www.charlestonplace.com. Hours: 2-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call for reservations.
The ABCs of Tea
Yes, the British did invent afternoon tea, not to be confused with high tea. That was a heavier repast with biscuits and gravy.
There are three kinds of tea: green (least processed), oolong (medium processed) and black (most processed). All have antioxidants.
Don't put cream or milk in green tea; it will curdle.
Herbal tea is not really tea. It's made from flowers and herbs such as chamomile.
The first tea bags were made of silk in 1904 by a New York tea-and-coffee merchant, who intended to use them as samples.
The tea at Charleston Place comes from Harney & Sons, 1-800-832-8463 or www.harney.com, and from Taylors of Harrogate, which was voted one of the best teas in England.
"Teatime In Charleston" is from the February 2006 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.
