LONDON GOURMET TEA TASTING EXPERIENCE STAFF REVIEW
Tea and cake is without a doubt one of the best pairings out there. Whether you’re favourite duo is a classic English breakfast and Victoria Sponge, a dark and dreamy Assam and Chocolate Brownie, or a fresh Green and Granola bar, there is no denying that a mug of hot tea and a sweet treat is a match made in heaven!
Here at Experience Days, we are all avid believers in – and lovers of – this classic combination. So you can imagine our delight when we were invited to take part in one of our newest experiences, a Tea and Cake pairing experience in London!
Evie and I hopped on a train and made our way to London’s Trinity Buoy Wharf. Situated right on the edge of the Thames, overlooking a stunning view of the O2 and crammed full of interesting architecture and quirky installations, this atmospheric area of London was the perfect backdrop for our evening of foodie fun.
As we entered the studio, we were greeted by Kyle, our tea master, and Kerran, the wonderful baker behind the amazing cakes we were to sample that evening. As we sat down, we were met with what can only be described as a tea and cake lover’s dream. Beautiful cakes, desserts and all manner of home made sweet treats adorned the rose petal and tea leaf strewn table, creating wonderful aromas and a sumptuous setting for an evening of tea tasting! The theme of the evening’s tasting was Arabian Nights, but each class is different depending on what Kyle and Kerran are loving at the moment, or have newly discovered and want to share with the world.
We joined the rest of the group and eagerly awaited our first pairing of the evening, a Jasmine Pearl tea and a Rose and Raspberry Eton Mess. As we tasted this pairing, new flavours and sensations swept over our palates. The delicate creaminess of the Eton Mess paired with the floral notes of Jasmine tea were matched perfectly, complimenting and enhancing their individual flavours.
With each cake and tea we sampled, Kyle and Kerran explained the individual tastes and combinations we would experience. Kyle’s knowledge of tea and its history was incredible; we learnt the correct steeping times for different teas in order to gain the most flavour, the traditional way in which different teas are produced, and why loose leaf teas are infinitely better than your standard teabag. Kerran’s baking was out of this world. All of the cakes and desserts we tasted were absolutely incredible, they were carefully thought out creations designed to work especially well with the teas we were tasting.
Our next combination was a buttery Oolong paired with a light baked cheesecake soaked in a sweet poppy flower syrup. It was the perfect match of butter and sweetness! A bright green Japanese Matcha was up next, complimented perfectly with a rich, smooth dark chocolate ganache served with choux pastry and pistachio cream.
A wonderful mix of Baklava and cake – one of Kerran’s amazing inventions – was next on the agenda. It was a masterpiece. Layers of hazelnut, light and airy sponge, golden filo pastry and rich chocolate ganache made up this cake, and it was like nothing I’d tried before! Paired with a beautiful roasted Japanese Hojicha that really brought out the nutty notes of the cake, this combination was definitely the star of the show for me!
A beautiful Earl Grey came next, balanced perfectly with an interesting Syrian fried pancake filled with lemon and lime ricotta. Finally, we tasted a beautiful Chai tea with a fantastic donut. No sickly jam to be seen here, instead a wonderfully subtle Cardamom and Pistachio cream filled the light dough – the perfect pairing to end what was a fantastic tasting experience.
Stuffed to the brim with exquisite cakes and refreshing teas, and of course with our newly found knowledge of tea and cake, it was time for us to head home. Kyle and Kerran were fantastic leaders of this perfectly sweet experience, answering any questions we had throughout and imparting their knowledge in a fun and engaging fashion.
This is a perfect experience gift for anyone with a love of tea and all things sweet. A range of Gourmet Tea pairing experiences are on offer, including a Tea and Cheese pairing and a Baking with Tea experience. You can also treat yourself or a loved ones to a Tea tasting masterclass, or a Tea brewing experience. Follow the links below to buy a gift voucher for these tea-mendous experiences:
Gourmet Tea Tasting Experience In London For Two
London Tea Tasting Masterclass for Two
