Take a step back in time and a jump over to England as you walk into the lavishly decorated “parlour” of the Beehive Tea Room. The decor is Victorian eclectic style, which sets the perfect ambiance for Afternoon Tea. One may enjoy a simple lunch of soup and a sandwich, or perhaps a coffee and cake. However, for a truly wonderful English experience, choose a delightful Afternoon Tea.
Afternoon Tea is a traditional light English meal served from 2-5 p.m. At the Beehive Tea Room, everything is served in traditional English style. There are over 35 loose leaf tea varieties to choose from in either black, green, white, or herbal. The tea is brought in an individual teapot along with a timer to brew the tea to preference. For those who are not tea drinkers, there is a choice of French press coffee or American hot chocolate instead.
The meal of Afternoon Tea comes out on beautiful china. One plate of delectable finger tea sandwiches and two scones per person are served on a tier stand. The sandwiches are beaufifully presented, cut into shapes and the crust removed; the fillings light and savory. Tomato and pesto cream cheese with pine nuts, cucumber and herb cream cheese and spinach artichoke are all available on two different types of pillowy soft bread.
Now, Utahans hear scones and immediately think of greasy, yeast risen fry bread. It is an enigma how these greasy “scones” took on the name of the classic pastry.
The traditional scone originated in Scotland and is said to have taken the name from the Stone of Destiny, or Scone, the place where Scottish kings were once crowned. These scones are delicate and flaky, studded with dried cranberries, and the tops sparkle with sugar.
Indulge and ask for an order of clotted cream. Clotted cream, or clabbered creme (clabber is an archaic word meaning cupboard or pantry), is cream that could be kept on the shelf without spoiling. Clotted cream is made from the milk of the best cream cow, the Jersey. It is thick, creamy and lightly sweet. Clotted cream atop a scone with butter and jam melts in the mouth.
After tasting the scones, it may seem impossible that dessert could follow such rich flavor. And yet it does; artistic petit fours (small finger cakes), blackberries with lemon whipped cream and tea cookies are all done to perfection.
The Beehive Tea Room is located in downtown Salt Lake City. It is a very refined place for a romantic afternoon date or afternoon with friends, and could even accommodate a bridal shower or wedding planning session — the Beehive Tea Room also has a wedding library to peruse over tea and cakes. Make sure to call ahead for reservations.
To quote Henry James, the expatriate American writer: “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
More Info:
The Beehive Tea Room
12 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT.
801-328-4700
Hours:
M-F: 11am-6:30pm
Sa: 11am-8pm
Su: 11am-5pm
Prices:
Beverages: $1.75-$9.00 + tax
Savory Edibles: $2.95-$11.95 + tax
Sweet Edibles: $2.50-$4.25 + tax
Afternoon Tea: $22.50 per person (tax and gratuity included)
Kids Menu (12 and under)
Kids Sandwiches: $2.95 + tax
Kids Tea or Hot Chocolate: $4.95 + tax
(Kids sanwiches come with assorted vegetable chips. The Kids tea or hot choclate comes in a silver kid-size tea pot with cookies)
