I have always been a little bit fascinated with royalty. As
a small fairy, I would slip into their gardens and sitting rooms to determine
how they dressed, what they were talking about, and especially what they ate
and drank. It is therefore no surprise that when I discovered the Fairmont
Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada, served high tea to anyone who was
appropriately dressed and could afford the experience, I couldn’t wait to get
there.
This August, I finally got to go and I was not disappointed.
The hotel is filled with beautiful furnishings and décor from the Victorian and
Edwardian eras. Table cloths and napkins are crisp and white. The china is
produced exclusively for the Empress Hotel and was first used in 1939 on the
occasion of a visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England. Silver teapots, trays, cream pitchers, and
sugar bowls are used to pour tea. A piano player tickles the ivories in the
background. I do not see this kind of
elegance very often today and it was like I had actually walked into the past.
My companions and I were taken to our table and seated. Our
server provided us with the carte du jour listing the delicacies we would be
served. We had a choice of teas and my companions opted for the Empress Blend.
I chose the Madame Butterfly Jasmine loose leaf tea. Tea was brewed at the
table and poured by the server. My tea was a blend of jasmine and green tea
from Fuijan province in China. The tea’s aroma reminded me of being in an
oriental temple surrounded by trees, little streams, and mountains. How
heavenly and serene!
The Afternoon Tea is rather costly but it is a wondrous and
unique experience. I recommend you allow a lot of time to fully enjoy the tea
and to tour the flower gardens outside. Extraordinary! Don’t you deserve to be
an Emperor or Empress for at least one afternoon?
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