A Royal High Tea at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo hosts a regal affair to celebrate the wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton on the 29th of April 2011.  The hotel’s popular high tea will take on a quintessential English twist to commemorate the event. 

The Royal High Tea menu will include Scottish Pies, Scones, English pancakes with orange butter, maple syrup and fresh cream, a series of mini cakes and numerous other treats fit for royalty.  The Royal Wedding and related programmes will be screened at the Lounge between 3.00 pm and 6.00pm to mark the ceremonious occasion.

The custom of drinking tea originated in England when Catherine of Braganza married Charles II in 1661 and brought down the practice of drinking tea in the afternoon with her from Portugal. However, according to legend, one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope also known as the Duchess of Bedford, is credited as the creator of the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ meal in the mid-1800s.

As the noon meal had become skimpier, the Duchess had suffered from “a sinking feeling” at about four o’clock in the afternoon.  At first, she had her servants sneak a pot of tea and a few breadstuffs to her.  Later, adopting the European tea service format, she invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at five o’clock in her rooms at Belvoir Castle.  The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets and, of course, tea.  This summer practice proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends, asking them to join her for “tea and a walk in the fields.”  The practice of inviting friends to come for tea in the afternoon was quickly picked up by other social hostesses and thus, the afternoon tea was born.

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo continues this tradition with a daily High Tea where guests are treated to a delightful assortment of sweet and savoury goodies whilst soft piano music completes the ambience at the hotel’s plush Lounge.  The Royal High Tea on April 29th is priced at the regular High Tea price of Rs. 790/-++++.  It is advisable to make an early reservation by contacting the Lounge on 2491956.