As you all know by now, I am a huge fan of a good afternoon tea service. It's funny because in my day-to-day life, other than chai, I'm actually not much of a tea drinker, but there's just something about the ritual of tea service that makes me so incredibly happy (perhaps it has something to do with secretly being a Brit at heart). While I'm down for tea service year-round, I especially love it during the holiday season; there's nothing better than a lovely and relaxing afternoon spent with your girlfriends indulging in everything sparkly, twinkly, girly, and delicious.
This year,
Ashley, aka my favorite fellow Anglophile, and I decided to make our way over to
The Langham for their holiday tea service. While we've both been to Travelle at The Langham numerous times over the years (
here's our very first visit back in 2016), neither of us had managed to make it in for their holiday tea, so this was an extra special treat. The service is held in their second-floor lounge, Pavillion, and includes a variety of
proprietary Langham teas and an array of sweet and savory bites, all served on gorgeous Wedgewood teaware made exclusively for The Langham. It is definitely a must-experience tea service, as The Langham is credited as the first luxury hotel in Europe to serve afternoon tea beginning in 1865.
The lobby at The Langham is always swoon-worthy, even more so during the holidays (especially when your friend brings it in head-to-toe sequins!). The ceiling features over 500 glass-blown pebbles, and their gorgeous tree showcases their signature pink.
The Holiday Tea menu includes a spread of savories, scones, and desserts, as well as sparkling wine (or the champagne upgrade, which of course, we had to get!) and tea selections.
We firmly believe every good celebration begins with glasses of bubbly!
The tea service menu offers over fifteen options, ranging from classic, traditional flavors to specialty teas only offered during the holidays. Based on our server's recommendation, I selected the
Children's Tea, a South African rooibos blended with sweet, fruity rhubarb (perfect if you like a slightly sweeter tea). I also sampled the
Nutcracker, a robust, full-bodied Ceylon black tea infused with hazelnut and vanilla (so lovely for the winter weather!). Everything is served on their beautiful Wedgewood teaware, designed to create a classic experience for guests.
The savories tray is made up of a variety of sandwiches boasting international flavors, which are definitely more unique than the typical offerings. This year's service includes:
- Milk-Braised Lamb Rillettes with Medjool date chutney, frisée, and celery
- Green Circle Chicken Cone with tomato jam, burrata, and petite basil
- Butternut Squash Tartlet with Brussels sprouts, creamy Crescenza, and toasted pepitas
- Seedless Cucumber Greek Salad with garbanzo yogurt spread, sweet peppers, and spearmint
Not to be outdone by their savory counterparts, the pastries are all beautifully festive and delicious:
- Mont Blanc: chestnut cream, mascarpone mousse, and orange cinnamon curd
- Hot Cocoa Kiss: cocoa sable, marshmallow crème, and chocolate peppermint ganache
- Black Forest Yule Log: dark chocolate sponge, Morello cherry mousse, and white chocolate glaze
- Santa’s Milk and Cookies: white chocolate pot de crème, eggnog chantilly, and gingersnap cookie
The service also includes a basket of
Fruitcake Scones and Gingerbread Scones served with Devonshire cream, Christmas jam, and apricot jam.
The whole experience at The Langham is lovely, and I cannot wait to head back over there next year to experience their themed tea services (previous themes have included
Downton Abbey and
Alice in Wonderland). Whether for an afternoon with girlfriends, a work outing, family time, or a romantic date, I highly recommend adding an afternoon at The Langham to your plans!
You can try all of this deliciousness and more at
The Langham Chicago: 330 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL.
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