This winter, Fortnum & Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is launching a Festive Afternoon Tea in collaboration with Hong Kong bar Tell Camellia (Asia’s 50 Best), renowned for combining the modern art of mixology with traditional artisanal teas. In true Fortnum’s fashion, this year’s festive patisseries will be served against the backdrop of gentle Christmas music from the grand master piano in the foyer.

From Tuesday 4th November, the brigade of pastry chefs are gearing up to deliver another show-stopping Christmas in the tea salon, compiling sweet afternoon tea stands with finger sandwiches, layered with Suffolk ham cured in Christmas spices, and Kames Bay smoked trout sandwiches with dill cream cheese. On the top plate, a decadent Dulce cranberry mousse patisserie; Sticky figgy pudding loaf; a very Fortnum’s Mince pie and mini Mandarin mousse, glazed to look like a christmas tree bauble. 

On the savoury stands, along with the classic sandwiches, seasonal treats include the Lobster cocktail tart; Stilton and walnut cheesecake; Wild mushroom and tarragon profiterole; Smoked trout and herb roulade and a Pheasant sausage roll, accompanied with prune and apple purée. An assortment of scones, either savoury or sweet will be served alongside with house preserves and curds, or unctuous cream cheese fillings perfect for the colder months. 

For a more indulgent experience, the High Tea Stand offers dishes such as Seaweed-Crusted Halibut with Champagne Caviar Velouté and rich Venison Wellington, followed by Fortnum’s signature patisseries and scones. A showstopping Mandarin cake will be circulated on the silver roaming cake trolleys for an extra slice of decadence at the end of the afternoon tea menus, or to be boxed up and enjoyed with a cup of tea at home. 

Executive Chef Roger Pizey’s Festive Afternoon Tea will run alongside a new cutting-edge cocktail, drawing on over 300 years of tea heritage from Fortnum’s and the avant-garde cocktail artistry from Tell Camellia’s Mixologist and Founder Gagan Gurung. A thoroughly festive affair, diners enjoying the savoury afternoon tea will be encouraged to switch their usual glass of fizz for the ‘Merrycha’, made with spiced Christmas Fortnum’s blend, with notes of mandarin marmalade, salted butter popcorn and dark rum. 

The limited edition Tell Camellia cocktail collaboration will run through the winter period, developed especially by the bar’s award winning mixology team. The cocktail will launch at both Fortnum & Mason and 181 Restaurant in Hong Kong, blending global tea traditions with creative mixology on opposite sides of the world. 

Afternoon Tea is served in the relaxed and elegant surroundings of The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon opened in 2012 by HM the Queen, accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge.

As a retreat from London's hustle and bustle, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is ideal, with dining table or sofa seating, a serene ambience and panoramic vista of Piccadilly, enhanced by the peaceful piano playing in the background.