Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon Review

This is for a series of posts related to a London 2014 trip including: 

The Ledbury, Founder's Arms, Fishcoteque, Borough Market, Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Tayyabs, Giraffe: Heathrow, Park Plaza Westminster, & Wagamama: Heathrow.

The one thing the GF wanted to do in London was enjoy afternoon tea. So we decided to head to Fortnum & Mason's Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon after spending the day at Buckingham Palace.

Fortnum & Mason is a huge department store located in London. They've obviously got everything you need for a proper tea, including a myriad of loose tea offerings for purchase. With respect to food, they've got specialty charcuterie, produce, and cheese as well.

Located on the top floor, you'll find a pianist on the grand piano. And to your right, the tea salon beckons, ready to help you feel at home for the next few hours. 

Afternoon Tea [40 Pounds pp =  $65.56 pp]

Afternoon tea is more than just the tea. It's about some pomp, along with some finger sandwiches and desserts to be enjoyed.

From an entire menu of options, each person gets to select their own tea. 

Not to be crass, but did I mention unlimited refills? On everything.

Green Tea with Ginger 
 

My green tea wasn't overpowering with ginger essence, but was lightly refreshing.

Black Tea with Apple
 

We appreciated the tiny cubes of dried apple that imparted their essence into the GF's tea.

But let's be real. I was here for the food. A tower of pastries, scones, and finger sandwiches came out. 

Along with clotted cream, strawberry, and lemon jams. 

The airiness of the rich clotted cream could not be denied.

The raisin scones were like sweet biscuits, with a hard exterior that lent way to a fluffy interior. Perfect to pair with the lemon and strawberry jams.

The sandwiches were sans crust and soft. Not much texture (even with the cucumber), but they were still enjoyable and classic. The cucumber sandwich was light, the salmon was smoky, and the egg salad was nicely seasoned with pepper. The roast beef was very good, but my favorite was the chicken and corn, which was well-seasoned and had sweet notes from the corn.

I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but how could these tasty treats be denied? Eclairs, chocolate ganaches, cream puffs, and macarons. 

On top of that, don't hesitate to ask for goodies from the dessert trolley. 

We decided to try both the chocolate cake and raspberry lady finger cakes. The raspberry cake was moist and studded with cream, raspberries, and walnuts. 

The chocolate cake was extremely decadent - essentially a molded ganache. If you're a fan of chocolate, this is heaven.

Service was very good as well - relaxed, well-paced, and proper without being pretentious. Some may poo at afternoon tea for those visiting London. But I say if you're looking to relax while enjoying some light fare and plenty of sweets, there's no reason you shouldn't consider spending your afternoon at Fortnum & Mason's Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon.