Afternoon Tea to Make the Duchess of Bedford Proud

Media Release
An Afternoon Tea the Duchess of Bedford Would Be Proud of

(Auckland – 7 August 2006) ----- Recognising the rise in favour of traditional afternoon teas, the Langham Hotel, Auckland has developed a new and improved afternoon tea.

Displayed on a customary three-tiered platter, guests requesting the new Langham Signature Afternoon Tea will be served mini scones, smoked salmon pinwheels, ham, tomato, cucumber and egg sandwiches, chocolate coated strawberries, fresh fruit tartlets, English fruit cake, spice cake and traditional Kiwi delacacies of lamingtons and butterfly cakes accompanied by crème fraiche, strawberry preserve, butter, and a selection of exotic teas and fine coffee.

Langham Signature Afternoon Tea is served daily from noon to 4.30pm in lobby bar The Winery and costs $30 for two people.

The new afternoon tea was created by Langham Hotel, Auckland’s executive chef Ofir Yudilevich: “We’ve noticed a very steady trend with more people of all ages coming in to enjoy afternoon tea. The new afternoon tea is the result of sampling many different ideas with guests and staff and the end result is something we’re pretty proud of.

“It’s certainly not something reserved only for the older generation, although it is popular with older couples, groups and families. We also have a lot of people in their 20s and 30s coming in to enjoy this daily custom,” says Ofir.

There are 16 different loose-leaf teas included in the afternoon tea, everything from a traditional earl grey through to more exotic flavours such as rose with French vanilla, jasmine pear dragon and rosehip and hibiscus flower. Guests can also opt for a latte or hot chocolate instead.

For those planning something bigger later on, the tea and coffee can be exchanged for a 375ml bottle of De Venoge Champagne for an additional $30.

The Afternoon Tea experience can be traced back to the 1840s and is reputed to have been started by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. Traditionally dinner was not served until 8:30 or 9:00 in the evening and the Duchess often became hungry.

So she ordered a small meal of bread, butter and other niceties, such as cakes, tarts and biscuits, to be brought secretly to her boudoir. When she was found out she was not ridiculed, as she had feared, but her habit caught on and the concept of a small meal, of niceties and perhaps tea, became popular and eventually known as ‘afternoon tea’.

To book the Langham Signature Afternoon Tea experience, please telephone (09) 379 5132.

BACKGROUND NOTES:

Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 when the Langham Hotel in London originally opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For 140 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious hospitality. Today, all Langham Hotels worldwide inherit the same philosophy that reflects elegance, continuous innovation and genuine hospitality creating a truly unique hotel experience. Langham Hotels International (LHI) features six properties with over 2,700 rooms in five gateway cities across the four continents, namely, London, Boston, Hong Kong (2), Melbourne and Auckland. In each city Langham Hotels is associated with the prestigious “The Leading Hotels of the World” group which represents some of the world’s finest luxury hotels. LHI is wholly owned by Great Eagle Holdings Limited, a publicly listed company (HKSE: 41) which was founded in 1963 and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972.

For information on the Langham Hotel, Auckland, please visit
www.langhamhotels.com/langham/auckland/

ENDS

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