Review: Afternoon Tea at Biscuiteers
Ever wanted to create your own beautifully iced Biscuiteers biscuits? Well now you can, whilst indulging in their delightful Afternoon Tea!
We visited their Belgravia branch of Biscuiteers, where tucked behind their iconic biscuit shop lies their cafe and icing bar. Glass panels separate the dining area from the biscuit factory where you can view Biscuiteer artists decorating their products - making it look simple! Whilst we soon found out this wasn’t the case, it was an incredibly fun activity that works so well alongside an Afternoon Tea.
Once we were seated, we were presented with a variety of shaped biscuits, a bowl full of icing in piping tubes and sprinkles. We were offered three biscuits each and given a demonstration on how to decorate our own pieces, with the chance to browse the shop for inspiration. Whilst you definitely need a steady hand, the experience itself is really joyful and makes you realize how talented the Biscuiteer staff are!
Whilst icing a three tiered stand arrived with a gorgeous Afternoon Tea set accomagined with a pot of tea. The menu is a rather traditional affair, with the usual suspects served for finger sandwiches, however each piece had an additional ingredient to add that extra oomph!
Lemon and chives appear in both the cream cheese & cucumber sandwiches as well as the fish. The smoked salmon was infused with both and sprinkled with dill adding extra flavour and I loved the sweetness that came through in the onion marmalade that was served with mature Cheddar cheese.
The scones are served warm with lashings of clotted cream and jam, and somewhat surprisingly for a more rustic, traditional Afternoon Tea, their cakes are elegant with a nod to fine patisserie.
The sweet selection was not only visually beautiful but when we cut into them, it was apparent what hard work went into each piece with a variety of different layers and textures.
Starting off with a traditional British classic, the mini Victoria sponge cake is decorated so elegantly and finished with dried raspberries and a gold leaf. The cheesecake is soft and creamy, with a sharp yet sweet rhubarb and strawberry centre, sitting upon a crumbly almond sable.
The lemon meringue tart is made extra special with the addition of yuzu but my personal favourite, the choux bun, is really something else.
Filled with a hazelnut praline, chocolate cremeux and a crunchy hazelnut heart, the choux is baked to perfection. The croquant adds to the texture and the numerous variety of chocolate and hazelnut really plays with your tastebuds.
Finally, a Biscuiteer experience wouldn’t be complete without trying one and a mini, iced Biscuiteer biscuit is also served. After spending hours decorating them, you (almost) feel guilty destroying such a delicate piece of art!
By the time we had enjoyed our Afternoon Tea, we had also finished designing our three biscuits which were then taken off to be baked and boxed up to enjoy later.
The interactive element of this experience makes it incredibly fun, whilst not taking away from the food. Everything, especially the cakes, are done very well making it the perfect venue for a special occasion, Hen party, or just something different to do whilst spending time with loved ones. Do you think you could ice as beautifully as a Biscuiteer artist?!
In celebration of Afternoon Tea Week, Biscuiteers Belgravia and Biscuiteers Notting Hill are offering a complimentary icing and Prosecco upgrade for the whole month of August 2022 (RRP £26!).
For the Biscuiteers Belgravia branch, click here for more details and to make a booking.
For the Biscuiteers Notting Hill branch, click here for more details and to make a booking.
