Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress Hotel (Victoria, BC, Canada)

Photo by Miss Windsor

Hello, darlings!
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During a leisurely jaunt to Canada, Miss Windsor spent a splendid afternoon sampling the afternoon tea delights at the Fairmont Empress Hotel – 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 1W5. 

And according to the jolly old internet (www.fairmont.com) 

AFTERNOON TEA - HOT AND STEAMY SINCE 1908 
A grand tradition for over a century, the world renowned Fairmont Empress has served England’s most beloved ritual of afternoon tea to famed royalty, celebrities and dignitaries alike. Reinvigorated in our timeless, sophisticated Lobby Lounge, Tea at the Empress will continue this quintessentially Victoria experience. 

Miss Windsor replies "I couldn't agree more!". 

Photo by Miss Windsor

Darlings, I'm pleased to announce that the Empress Hotel offers a traditional English and a rather regal afternoon tea dining experience. I say it was a real treat to sit amongst such palatial surroundings whilst sipping tea from a bone china cup n’ saucer made exclusively for the hotel by William Edwards of London - How spiffing!     ​

You see, The Fairmont Empress Hotel is a purveyor of fine teas and is known by the grand title of – The De Specialite Biologique by Hotels Fairmont. In fact, Miss Windsor’s favourite tea is the Orange Pekoe Empress - as below. 

Photo by Miss Windsor

And I must advise, Orange Pekoe Empress Tea is best enjoyed without milk; so one may appreciate the coppery bronze colour, accompanied by its light, refreshing, yet earthy flavour - nicely jazzed up with a hint of ‘bark'. Of course, I mean that from a tree, not the kind snarled by a four legged animal sporting a fur coat!

​But I dare say, don’t be fooled by the name – as per Miss Windsor’s description, the flavour bears no resemblance at all to the sweetness we’ve all encountered from the common orange.
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Also, I was a quite taken by the Rose Congou Emperor Tea, and was pleased to learn that this exquisite blend was, in fact, our beloved Princess Diana’s tea of choice during her visit to The Empress!

Photo by Miss Windsor

Darlings, I must say, in a staunch attempt to reduce one’s ‘paunch’, I opted for the gluten-free afternoon tea pageantry. The bread was utterly divine and freshly baked at the hotel. Light, bouncy, and not all tough or cardboard like – Oh, what a relief! The sandwiches were generously prepared with mouth-watering fillings – salmon, beef and cucumber – How scrumptious!

Photo by Miss Windsor

Moving swiftly on - as I gently teased open one of the scones – eager to smother each side with strawberry jam and cream! although gluten-free, the texture was surprisingly ‘pillowy’ soft, and a tad spongy – Oh, how delightful!

Darlings, following a nibble or two, Miss Windsor must admit she wasn’t at all enamoured by the taste and texture of the strawberry jam and cream – what a disappointment! The jam was too runny, overly sweet and extremely acidic in taste, which lingered at the back of one’s throat for a scanty while - How ghastly! 

Photo by Miss Windsor

Also, the cream was too light and airy, slightly gritty in texture and tasted surprisingly like candy! To be brutally honest darlings, nothing beats Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream and Tiptree strawberry jam, indigenous to the West Country of England.
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Now before I say my goodbyes! one mustn’t forget to pay homage to the brilliant pianist, who beautifully set the tone for my first afternoon tea dining experience at the Fairmont Empress Hotel – round of applause, please!

Photo by Miss Windsor

Darlings, without a shadow of a doubt I highly recommend this superb establishment, especially if one wishes to experience the traditions of an English afternoon tea.

The ambience was second to none, and if Miss Windsor hasn’t persuaded you already, one suggests to order a pot or two of Princess Diana’s tea of choice or Miss Windsor's favourite - Orange Pekoe Empress  - they're absolutely heavenly, darlings!
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Until next time,