A new Emirati afternoon tea launched by Atlantis The Royal in Dubai is bringing local flavours to a classic tradition.
The hotel’s Royal Tearoom has partnered with one of the region’s leading pastry chefs, Christophe Devoille, to launch the UAE-themed offering, which is served in the ultra-luxury resort’s pristine main lobby, amidst its glittering Droplets sculpture and vast aquariums.
The afternoon tea features an extensive selection of Arabic pastries, including Luqaimat – crispy fried dumplings paired with an Emirati date syrup – a spongy Sago rich in cardamom, toasted coconut and topped with gold leaf, as well as the traditional Khanfaroosh drizzled in local mountain honey.
The experience, which is priced at AED440 for two people, is finished with a decadent Halawet El Jibn served table-side comprising ashta cheese, delicate rose water, pistachio and amarena cherry.
For fans of a more traditional afternoon tea, the signature offering at AED560 includes a refined stand of scones, finger sandwiches, and pastries, while a regularly changing selection of desserts are influenced by in-season fruits.
Savouries include a candy tomato tart with ricotta pannacotta, an organic egg mimosa, and smoked turkey with black truffle.
These are followed by a selection of pastries, scones and preserves, including chocolate and almond cake, lemon and tarragon tartlet and fluffy scones with a rich clotted cream and raspberry, rose petal and lychee preserves.
As well as the afternoon tea offering, Chef Christophe has travelled the world to source the finest and rarest ingredients possible as well as a luxury selection of handcrafted Arabic sweets, including Ash El Bilbul Cashew, chocolate Baklawa with macadamia and Baklawa Asiah.
An all-day pastry counter also serves over 30 different types of tea including the increasingly rare yellow tea to accompany a selection of 16 homemade pastries and eight kinds of croissants, danish and brioches.
The pastries are all handcrafted by Chef Christophe’s talented team of nine bakers and 41 pastry colleagues, who work 24 hours a day to produce some of the most beautiful desserts in Dubai.
