{"id":9856,"date":"2023-03-08T11:00:46","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T11:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clippervacations.com\/magazine\/?p=9856"},"modified":"2023-03-09T01:37:06","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T01:37:06","slug":"the-insider-guide-to-experiencing-afternoon-tea-at-the-fairmont-empress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clippervacations.com\/magazine\/the-insider-guide-to-experiencing-afternoon-tea-at-the-fairmont-empress\/","title":{"rendered":"The Inside Guide to Tea at the Fairmont Empress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slow steam rises as a floral-scented tea flows into my cup. This experience is replicated 500,000 times a year as tea gently streams from a china teapot into ornate royal teacups. It is the sound that symbolizes the beginning of another afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress.<\/p>\n

Book Now<\/strong>:
\nVictoria Overnight with Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress<\/a>
\nVictoria Day Trip with Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Atmosphere<\/h2>\n

Walking up to the entrance of the stately stone and brick building, it\u2019s hard not to be awestruck by\u00a0the\u00a0magnificent presence of the iconic hotel towering over Victoria\u2019s Inner Harbour. A renowned international landmark, the hotel has housed guests from all walks of life and different parts of the world. Even having visited before, the grandeur of\u00a0the Empress<\/a>\u00a0never fails to enchant and leave me breathless.<\/p>\n

Striking, classical columns that look as though they have been plucked from a historic Roman building immediately catch my eye as I enter the spacious Lobby Lounge. Attention is immediately drawn to the elegant tables immaculately set for the Empress\u2019 iconic tea service. The room\u2019s accent colors riff off the shine of the china helping create a beautiful and bright space.<\/p>\n

While the Empress has been serving tea since 1908, the hotel\u2019s remodel has magically transformed the look and feel of the entire space, creating a sophisticated, luminous atmosphere that still manages to retain the original architecture of the building. In short, the best of both worlds where English tradition meets modern decor.<\/p>\n

\"The
The reinvented Lobby Lounge highlights the original architecture, for a modern take on royal tea. Photo: The Fairmont Empress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Tea<\/h2>\n

As I settle into a cozy rattan-backed chair, I am greeted by the Lounge\u2019s welcoming team of servers who present a tea menu unlike any other I have encountered. I crack open the beautiful and weighty wooden menu and find 21 tiny glass \u201cwindow panes\u201d allowing for a peek at the fine loose-leaf teas<\/a> available for my sipping pleasure.<\/p>\n

\"This
This unique tome offers a wide variety of tea to choose from. Photo: Kusum Basavaraju<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The diverse array of offerings run the gamut from hand-rolled oolongs to flower-filled herbal blends. With so many options, I have a tough time choosing just one tea to satiate my curiosity. After hemming and hawing for a few minutes, I turn to my expert tea server for advice.<\/p>\n

One of their top picks for spring is the Flora’s Berry Garden, which is created exclusively for Fairmont Empress by the Metropolitan Tea Company.<\/p>\n

\"A
A candle-lit warmer keeps your tea at just the right temperature throughout the service. Photo: Lucas Anderson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I decide on the Flora’s Berry Garden, a full-flavored blend with deep berry notes. The tea soon arrives in a china teapot carefully placed upon a candle-lit warmer and accompanied by a handy timer to ensure steeping perfection. The timer is comprised of three hour-glass shaped vials, each filled with a different color of sand, corresponding to each type of tea. As every tea expert knows, timing is everything.<\/p>\n

The Treats<\/h2>\n

Like any tea experience, the treats accompanying the tea are a key ingredient to the service. By the time that the last taupe grains of sand trickle through my timer, a sleek three-tiered platter arrives at my table, brimming with a slate of goodies fit for a queen\u00a0(after all, the Empress is the only place in town that has played host to Queen Elizabeth II herself)<\/em>, each more delicious than the last.<\/p>\n

There are even finger-sized bites such as PB&J sandwiches and vanilla cake lollipops for the kiddos on the Prince and Princess Tea menu (A little insider tip: this is the perfect opportunity to dress your little prince or princess up in their finest duds, tiaras optional, and give them the chance to live like royalty for the afternoon. Grandparents love it and it also makes for a great photo op!).<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Chocolate
Chocolate cremeux dome tarts, pistachio raspberry delice, passion fruit strawberry pavlova and more top the Empress’ three-tiered platter. Photo: Lucas Anderson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The phenomenal, mouth-watering\u00a0eats<\/a>, range from cold smoked salmon to earl grey chocolate ganache, and are produced in-house using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Creating these magnificent treats is no small feat. My server explains creating the house-made clotted cream, alone is a 12-step process. As such, the Empress\u2019 pastry kitchen works around the clock to make sure everything is up to standard.<\/p>\n

Presented with such an impressive array of goodies, part of me just wants to dive right in and try everything at once (which, is totally acceptable in case you are wondering)<\/em>. In keeping with tradition, my tea server suggests working from the bottom to the top of the platter and eating these tantalizing treats in the following order: sandwiches, scones and pastries. While I intend to follow the plan, I quickly realize the scones are warm and fresh \u2013 straight from the oven. Game changer. I can\u2019t help myself and immediately dive in on the heavenly treat.<\/p>\n

\"Indulge
Indulge in exquisite tea at the Fairmont Empress. Photo: The Fairmont Empress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If the smell of this freshly-baked goodness doesn\u2019t make your mouth water, the strawberry jam will certainly do the trick. A delicious combination of sweet and floral, the preserves are made in-house from local berries and lavender grown in the hotel\u2019s little-known, rooftop garden. As I slice into a scone, topping each half with a little cream and a dollop of strawberry jam, I\u2019m transported to foodie heaven, savoring each warm, gooey bite. Perfection<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Tasting the superb tea and savory and sweet eats from the famous Lobby Lounge for the first time is a rite of passage here in the Pacific Northwest. I\u2019m already planning a return trip to repeat this memorable event, only next time maybe I\u2019ll add some bubbly.<\/p>\n

\"Book<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feature Photo: Fairmont Empress<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Slow steam rises as a floral-scented tea flows into my cup. This experience is replicated 500,000 times a year as tea gently streams from a china teapot into ornate royal teacups. It is the sound that symbolizes the beginning of another afternoon tea at the majestic Fairmont Empress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":16921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[500],"class_list":["post-9856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-victoria","tag-food-and-drink"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nInside Guide to Tea at the Fairmont Empress | Clipper Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A right of passage in the Pacific Northwest, Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC is a elegant treat not to be missed.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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