It's Tea Time! - 5 High Tea Spots Put To The Test

The English tradition of high tea has become a much-loved afternoon ritual across Singapore. The EL team sat down to a leisurely cuppa, along with tartlets, sandwiches, scones and much more to bring you our thoughts on some of the best afternoon teas across the island – from the strawberry-inspired to the floral-themed!

D9 Cakery, Voco Orchard Singapore

Tea time: Mondays to Saturdays, 2pm to 5pm; Sundays, 3pm to 5pm
Price: From $44 per person

Spill the tea: Cameras at the ready! This is possibly the prettiest high tea I’ve seen, with award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Edwin Leow incorporating flowers, fruit, spices and floral and citrus flavours into the dainty edibles. It’s a nod to Orchard Road’s heritage of fruit orchards, pepper farms and nutmeg plantations.

Served within the stylish Opus Bar & Grill, the tea’s sweet treats are presented in a golden three-tiered bird cage, while the savoury bites, each sprinkled with flower petals, are served on a separate wooden slate.

We tucked into the signature rose and lychee macaron, madeleines infused with lemon and lavender and sprinkled with dried lavender, foie gras mousse in a cacao tart topped with black truffle, and cherry and hibiscus flower gelee.

Our favourites? The sudachi meringue tart with toasted meringue, and a citrus sphere made of orangeinfused Bavarian, orange coulis, zesty curd and almond sable. Special mention, too, to the decadent replica of Mavis, the hotel mascot, made from ivory chocolate mousse, and an Opus pot-plant creation that looked almost too good to eat!

Loose leaf classics by TWG are available, but we opted for the flower blooming teas. The tea is bundled into a bouquet and, when steeped in hot water, it starts to bloom. It was mesmerising to watch the Enchanted Beauty tea reveal an amaranth flower within the glass teapot.

We continued taking photos and chit-chatting long after our table was cleared.