Shangri-La High Tea: A delightful treat !

By Ruwandi Gamage

If you’re a high tea aficionado, look no further than the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo, which serves up an utterly elegant specially curated high tea experience, which is certain to give competitors a run for their money.

Offering three different platters – ranging from Afternoon High Tea, Classic Western High Tea and Sri Lankan High Tea – the hotel is also able to include vegan or keto options upon request. The platters include five savouries and five sweets each, alongside a selection of teas, coffees, fresh juices and infused water. 

The spread can be enjoyed by two people for a net price of Rs. 3,130 in the elegant ambience and beautiful surrounding of the Sapphyr Lounge between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. everyday. Customers are requested to call and make reservations beforehand, especially if they have particular dietary needs.

Afternoon High Tea platter 

The Afternoon High Tea platter includes five savoury and four sweet items plus the ever-present irresistible scones. Personal favourites here are the grilled crab cake made with Negombo lagoon crab, the smoked salmon and horseradish cream brown bread sandwich and the English fruit trifle. It goes without saying that the warm vanilla scones served with strawberry jam and cream cheese always make the favourites list.

Classic Western High Tea platter

The Classic Western High Tea platter, featuring six sweets and four savouries, was our favourites out of the three platters on offer. All savoury items were beautifully made and tasted amazing. The platter included three types of sandwiches (salmon, cream cheese and egg mayonnaise) and a chicken and mushroom vol-au-vent. 

The sweets line up featured a meringue tart, macaroons, brownie, fruit trifle and a chocolate truffle. The platter is complemented with warm vanilla, plain or raisin scones alongside strawberry jam, lemon curd and clotted cream specially brought down from UK.

Sri Lankan High Tea platter

The Sri Lankan High Tea platter is a combination of different cultures, inspired by street food and fruits. Sweets include an assortment of fruits brought down from Dambulla, pol-pani pancake, watalappan, bibikkan and marzipan – the Sri Lankan fruit cake. 

Savouries include a Sri Lankan fish bun, vegetable cutlet, chicken roll and lamb samosa. The warm scones on this platter are cinnamon infused and served alongside pineapple and vanilla sauce.

The mastermind behind the high tea delights is Chef Gishantha, who has also curated special keto and vegan menus as well, keeping all diners in mind. The keto items include an avocado and egg boat and a Cajun chicken stuffed mushroom, while the vegan items include a loaded dim sum and a coconut treacle infused fruit spring roll as well.

Upon arrival, the guests are presented with infused water with a choice between cucumber and rosemary or mint leaves and orange. You can choose between a range of hot and cold teas and coffees and fresh juices to complement your choice of food.

‘Rooted in nature’

Shangri-La Hotel Public Relations Director Mahika Chandrasena and Chef Gishantha gave Daily FT a comprehensive insight into the food items on the menus, explaining how they carry the theme ‘rooted in nature’ and how the Shangri-La hotel High Tea stays close to its promise of serving sustainably-sourced food with the aim of respecting the natural order of things and reducing the damage caused on the environment.

They do so by supporting local agriculture and fishing communities, sourcing from free-range livestock and poultry products where possible and serving organic and fair trade products indicated by local and national standards.

There are few better ways to spend an evening in the city and spending some time indulging in the high tea spread at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo is something you certainly won’t regret!

Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe