A very special afternoon tea in Limerick
It is no secret that I love afternoon tea. Give me a beautiful room, a pot of interesting tea, little sandwiches, exquisite pastries and a few hours where nobody expects me to be anywhere else and I am a very happy woman.
I particularly love afternoon tea in London, where the whole experience has become something of a ritual. Afternoon tea at Adare Manor was on my list of things I wanted to experience this year. So last Saturday, my friend Judy and I made the trip to Adare.
Adare itself is a picturesque village and Adare Manor rises from the landscape with a kind of grandeur of times past. The present manor dates back to the early 19th century when it was built for the Earls of Dunraven. The grounds are beautifully maintained and the approach itself builds up expectations.
Then you walk through the entrance and find yourself in the lobby, greeted by the most stunning flower display. Afternoon tea is served in the gallery and if there was ever a room designed for lingering over tea, this is it. It is long and elegant, lined with antique bookshelves and books, with stained glass windows, comfortable seating and little treasures that catch your eye as you look around.
The service at Adare Manor was second to none. Nothing felt rushed and everything was beautifully considered. The tea menu offered a lovely selection and one of my favourite teas, Oolong was among the choices.
I am always curious about the tea itself and enjoy finding something a little different from the standard pot. Adare Manor has taken the traditional afternoon tea and given it a distinctly creative twist.
The ‘sandwiches’ included an Adare Manor Ploughman’s with Limerick ham, farmhouse cheddar and garden pickles, transformed into croquette form. The mini brioche with quail egg was one of the best egg sandwiches I have tasted in a very long time, while the Duncannon smoked trout éclair was rich yet refreshing with trout caviar adding another lovely note.
Then there was the pastrami sandwich. I wasn’t entirely convinced about the crispy gherkin when I first saw it. But I was very happy to admit that I was wrong. I asked for a second one and that probably tells you everything you need to know.
The scones arrived fresh, warm and wonderfully light. And then came the pastries. The Orchard Dew, an apple mousse dessert, was my favourite - light, delicate and beautifully balanced. The Midnight Garden Tartlet brought rich chocolate, hazelnut crunch and coffee cream to the table, while the Passion Bloom Baba and Verdant Paris-Brest were equally delicious.
No afternoon tea is complete without a little sparkle and the Taittinger Rosé Champagne was an excellent choice. Its vibrant pink colour and fresh fruity balance made it a particularly lovely companion to the food and it may be becoming my new favourite champagne.
Just when we thought the afternoon couldn’t get any better, we were given a little bag to take home containing a mini tea caddy of Adare Manor’s signature tea blend. It was such a charming touch and exactly the kind of detail that stays with you after a visit.
We couldn’t leave without investigating the chocolate shop on the estate. I had not come across chocolatier Harry Lowes before, but the display was stunning. We left with a beautiful box of handcrafted chocolates. Strictly for research purposes!
Adare Manor is one of those places where the setting becomes part of the experience. You are not simply having afternoon tea. You are sitting in a remarkable piece of Irish history, surrounded by architecture, craftsmanship and stories that stretch back generations.