Tea Time! 10 Places to Enjoy Afternoon Tea in South Africa

Java-addicts, coffee klatches and cappuccino-lovers abound, but what of those who do not enjoy a cup of joe? Believe it or not, they do exist; sometimes in the form of tea-sippers. If you are one of them, you’ll be happy to discover the variety of elegant afternoon tea choices open to you in South Africa.

Many know this extravagance as high tea, but the term has become misappropriated and what is typically referred to as high tea, with all its attendant foppery and finery, is actually known as afternoon tea. The latter was enjoyed by the wealthy English in the 19th century, while high tea refers to a more solid meal which was taken in the early evenings by the middle class.

Although the term high tea has often been applied outside of the UK when serving the traditional afternoon tea, South African hotels and dining establishments have been pretty thorough in paying proper homage to England’s tea-taking tradition.

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1. Rosemary Hill, Pretoria

English authors such as Douglas Adams and George Orwell were very fussy about their tea, but would have been more than pleased at the tea-selection procedure at Rosemary Hill.

Blended loose leaf teas are brought to the table in glass tubes, allowing aficionados to absorb the aromas before making their choice. Orwell and Adams were not only sticklers for preparing tea properly, but agreed that the best form is the loose leaf variety, so you are clearly in expert hands at this organic, family-run farm.

The downside to several locations offering afternoon tea is that the food they serve is merely leftovers that are given a bit of floral garnish and tossed onto a tiered tray, but at Rosemary Hill the food is freshly prepared, ensuring you receive a truly authentic experience.

2. Budmarsh Country Lodge, Magaliesburg

England’s west country is dotted with quaint tea rooms, and if you want a similar experience then head to Budmarsh Country Lodge in Magaliesburg.

Take your afternoon tea in the heart of nature, listening to the calls of birds before going for a leisurely stroll along the river. Make sure you book, as the lodge’s tea is incredibly popular.

3. The Maslow Hotel, Sandton

Jo’burg may be wreathed in exhaust fumes expelled from endless lines of vehicles on roads twisting through humming business hubs; but hidden among the leafy canopies of suburban bliss are boutique hotels which completely remove you from the city. The Maslow in Sandton is just such a haven, serving afternoon tea in the lap of luxury. Their signature teas, sweetly-named SereniTEA, are blended exclusively for the hotel by Nigiro Tea Merchants. The Maslow offers three different afternoon teas, all designed and developed by Executive Chef Dallas Orr; these are: Fashion Afternoon Tea, Champagne Afternoon Tea and Méthode Cap Classique Afternoon Tea. Each is served with a variety of petit fours, pastries, savoury items and loose leaf teas. The latter two teas are served with a glass of Moët & Chandon Rosé and Graham Beck Rosé, respectively, adding just the right sparkle of style.

4. The Oyster Box, Durban

With the heavy influence of English colonialism reflected in its architecture, Durban is an ideal spot to enjoy afternoon tea in South Africa. At The Oyster Box in Umhlanga you will be awestruck by the hotel’s colonial flairs such as the chandeliers which come directly from London’s Savoy Hotel. In the Palm Court you can sip tea by the sea while listening to live piano music, the tranquil atmosphere tinged with just the right opulence as you nibble on scones, pastries, quiches, cakes and finger sandwiches.

5. Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town

If you enjoy the colonial backdrop, then visit the Mount Nelson for the perfect setting. Rather than enjoying their cakes and sandwiches, you’ll be eerily enchanted by this slice of colonial splendour in the heart of an African city.

Their tea is also something to marvel at, proffering an interesting selection of leaf and flowering teas such as Darjeeling, Kenya, Assam, Keemun, Yunna and Ceylon, along with their signature tea blended from rose petals straight out of the hotel’s gardens.

Professor Higgins would have felt quite at home here, strolling through the gardens or sinking into an armchair, waiting for Eliza to bring him his slippers.

6. The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Camps Bay

For more tea by the sea, visit The Twelve Apostles Hotel in Camps Bay.

Served in the The Leopard Bar, The Café Grill and the Conservatory, their selection of scones, cupcakes, macaroons and finger sandwiches will bring back visions of little girls in bygone days enjoying “sugar and spice and all things nice”, as they hosted an assemblage of stuffed toys and imaginary friends.

7. Taj Hotel, Cape Town

Even though tea’s origins lie in China, England has held a monopoly over the beverage for centuries, helping to spread it into India in latter days; which means if you’re looking for another afternoon tea in Cape Town, the Taj Hotel is a must.

Here you can sample a wide variety of loose leaf teas, served with a selection of cakes, scones, macaroons and finger sandwiches. As a fun twist, they often introduce a theme such as their South African afternoon tea served with koeksisters and melktert, or the wildly popular chocolate afternoon tea.

8. La Residence, Franschhoek

There are so many reasons to visit the beautiful valley of Franschhoek and the afternoon tea at La Residence is just one of them. The hotel offers an afternoon tea with an incredible menu which includes smoked Franschhoek salmon sandwiches with herb cream cheese; English scones with berry preserves, rose petal jelly and Chantilly cream; lavender shortbread; butter biscuits; apple and cinnamon frangipane sponge, and fruit tartlets with patisserie cream. It sounds so good you’ll almost forget about the tea; but they serve a selection of loose leaf varieties, making sure they get every last detail of the afternoon tea right.

9. Lucy’s, Anywhere (within reason)

Fancy your very own afternoon tea? Then give Lucy’s a call.

A pop-up experience started by Lucy Marston, it is based in Cape Town and promises to bring you “English tradition with a local twist”. Lucy’s is fervent about serving afternoon cream tea in exactly the right manner: with scones, jam and clotted cream – served either the Devonshire or the Cornish Way.

Seeped in English tradition, Lucy is nevertheless passionately particular about using locally-sourced ingredients to ensure not only her product’s local twist, but a sustainable food culture to boot.

10. An Afternoon with Rooibos Tea, Clanwilliam

If you want South African flavour during tea time, then abandon all the frills and frolics and try a cup of rooibos tea. Literally translated to “red bush”, rooibos is a herb endemic to South Africa, and the resultant drink made from this fynbos species is actually a herbal infusion, and not tea. It is, however, commonly referred to as such and available all over South Africa – in shops and restaurants. Last year, the country gave a collective gasp of horror when the French and Americans tried to trademark the South African herb. Luckily, logic won out and South Africa retained the trademark rights over their indigenous heritage. Even though you can drink it everywhere you go in South Africa, an all-encompassing experience is available at the Rooibos Tea House at NetMar in Clanwilliam. This particular tea house is the only one of its kind in the world and serves over 100 flavours and blends of rooibos including mango, peach, orange, caramel, vanilla, honey, buchu, lemongrass, hoodia, mint, lavender and chamomile. They offer tea tastings where you select five different kinds to taste; and you can even catch a glimpse of rooibos-baking and stock up on your favourite flavours to take home.

Featured image by Sophia Baik