In recent years the need to control costs has sounded the death knell for expense-account epicurean excursions. Business meetings that might once have happened over foie gras and fine wine have been replaced by conference calls and frappuccino in polystyrene cups. But in the post-Polokwane period, there is a new-found desire to retreat into little luxuries. Booze makes people silly and no-one can afford the caviar blowouts of days past, but tea and tea parties are back in style. Somehow the combination of tiered cake stands and Earl Grey makes for budget-friendly networking at its most classically classy. What follows is a guide to five of the best high teas in SA.
- Cape classic: Mount Nelson Hotel (021) 483-1000
Recently named Best High Tea in the World by the UK Sunday Times' Winner's Dinners Awards, the 108-year-old Mount Nelson's tea offers crust less salmon sandwiches and a white chocolate-and-almond Prince of Wales cake fit for a king. Starched table cloths and feather-light éclairs complete the picture. The Nellie's pink-and-white meringues alone are worth the R150/ head asking price.
- Bo-Kaap buns: Noon Gun (021) 424-0529
Mariam Misbach offers what she calls "a traditional tea-time Malay cake tray" from her charming family-style Bo-Kaap eatery. For R27 you can buy fragrant samoosas, tender dhaltjies (chilli bites), coconut-rolled koesisters and the best view of the city. Be warned: the venue is strictly halaal, so dispensing with tea and moving on to champagne is not an option.
- Pastry perfection: Saxon (011) 292-6000
Jo'burg posh at its most perfect. Anyone who is anyone, from Madiba to Oprah Winfrey, has taken tea at the Saxon. One can buy chocolate-dense Saxon torte, cucumber sandwiches from heaven and vanilla-laden cheese cake for R150/person. There are cracklingly crisp spring rolls, praline slices and utterly adorable cupcakes.
- Free State fabulous: De Oude Kraal (051) 564-0733
Marie Lombard serves high tea from her über-classy country hotel on a 19th century merino sheep farm just outside Bloemfontein. Guests and day visitors can buy lavender-infused chocolate truffles, scones with biltong cream, light-as-a-feather chocolate éclairs and a generous portion of cheese, biscuits and homemade preserves for R140. Do not leave without eating a miniature milk tart.
- Local is lekker: Kliptown Holiday Inn, Soweto 0800-999-136
Not strictly a high tea, but a mix-and-match of home-style ginger beer, scones, vetkoek, chakalaka and a cheese cake that musical icon Abdullah Ibrahim recently described as the best in SA. On Sunday afternoons you can see a live jazz band on the stoep and have some proper trifle that is just like mama used to make.
- Anna Trapido is a chef, food writer and author
