Taking Tea at The Hotel Hershey

We spent a snowy afternoon this past weekend in the Fountain Lobby of The Hotel Hershey where they serve Afternoon Tea as part of their month long chocolate themed events for February. As many American hotels are want to do, they called this event a High Tea.

Immediately upon being seated, one of the wait staff placed an Apricot White Chocolate Scone on the small plate while the other hostess poured hot water into our teacup. In the center of the table, there was a plate laden with an assortment of Harney & Sons teabags alongside true clotted cream and raspberry marmalade. We each quickly selected our tea flavors and took a peak at the menu.

As we were enjoying our scone, the plate of tea sandwiches was presented before us. It featured an Egg Salad with White Chocolate and Chives triangle, a Chocolate Chicken Salad with Red Grapes and Pecans on whole wheat bread, Smoked Tenderloin of Beef with Chocolate-Chili Mayonnaise and Smoked Salmon with Sliced Cucumber and White Chocolate Crème Fraiche. The presence of the chocolate in the tea sandwiches was very delicate. It was decided that the white chocolate contributed a smooth flavor to the egg salad although the chives were a predominant flavor. Most of us picked the smoked salmon off the sandwich and ate it as a cucumber sandwich! The least popular at our table was the chicken salad.

 Our tea cups were frequently refilled with hot water, and a second scone was offered.

Once we were done savoring the tea sandwiches, a beautiful plate of pastries was presented to each of us. This featured a Pistachio Macaron, Blueberry Almond Tea Cake, Key Lime Meringue Tartlet, and Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Tartlet with a smear of chocolate fudge on the plate. These were all favorites among us! The almond tea cake had a delicious almond flavoring, the meringue tartlet was almost like marshmallow, the chocolate truffle tartlet was fabulously rich, and the pistachio offered a crisp contrast. Several of us practically licked the chocolate fudge off of the plate.

The boys were away this weekend, so several of us made plans to make it a special Saturday gathering. Unfortunately lousy weather inhibited travel for those coming a distance (we missed you guys), but Kandy was happy to be part of our intrepid tea group.

This beautiful floral arrangement greeted us as we arrived at the hotel. But don't be fooled, Old Man Winter was still wrecking havoc outside when it was time to leave.