Tea

The Classicist: London's Famed Savoy Hotel Back After $350 Million Revamp

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Architecture & Design

London's renowned Savoy hotel has just reopened following a massive $350 million revamp encompassing one of the most ambitious restorations in British history. The world famous landmark, built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, originally opened in August 1889. Originally managed by Swiss hotelier César Ritz and Maitre Chef Auguste Escoffier, the hotel quickly became known for impeccable service and cuisine as well as glittering parties and famous patrons. Over the decades George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire and Noel Coward entertained there, while famous guests included King Edward VII, Harry Truman, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Chanel, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and numerous others. The property, now managed by Fairmont, has been closed for nearly three years while the impressive restoration project took shape.

120 years later the hotel's two main design aesthetics, Edwardian and Art Deco, have been carefully revitalized under the direction of world-renowned designer Pierre Yves Rochon. More than 1000 craftspeople, artists and artisans worked tirelessly to create interiors that are in keeping with the hotel's original and much-loved spirit. 38 new River Suites and guestrooms have been added, offering the same stunning views over the River Thames that inspired Whistler and Monet. Nine Personality Suites pay tribute to a few of the artists and well known figures who made the legendary hotel their London home away from home including Sinatra, Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich. The suites contain art, literature, photographs and artifacts that evoke the time and spirit of the stars including the 12 pink roses in the Marlene Dietrich Suite that the actress always requested upon arrival.

The reopening also includes the addition of a stately $16,000-per-night, 325-square meter Royal Suite featuring two bedrooms, a study, sitting room, dining room, master bathroom, dressing room (with a specially ventilated shoe closet) and a master bedroom with a bespoke Savoir bed. The suite has been specially designed so that all the rooms enjoy one of the finest views of London. The legendary River Restaurant meanwhile gets a contemporary interpretation of Art Deco décor, and the famed cocktail mecca the American Bar is back in business while Savoy Grill returns under the operation of Gordon Ramsay Holdings with Chef Patron, Stuart Gillies and Head Chef, Andy Cook. [continued]

Gallery: The Savoy Reborn

Tags: Art Deco, bar, cocktails, Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor, Fairmont, Fairmont hotels, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Gilbert and Sullivan, Gordon Ramsay, hotel, hotel suites, London, luxury hotels, Maria Callas, Marilyn Monroe, Monet, Ritz, Savoy, Savoy hotel, tea, Thames, The Beatles, UK

Continue reading “The Classicist: London's Famed Savoy Hotel Back After $350 Million Revamp”

The Plaza Hotel's Palm Court Opens for Afternoon Tea Service

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Plaza Hotel recently reopened the newly renovated Palm Court.

As part of the Plaza Hotel's $450 million, three year restoration, the Palm Court has reopened and its newly launched afternoon tea service is not to be missed.

Known as the heart and soul of The Plaza, the Palm Court is a vast landmark space bordered by mirrored doors, fleur-de-peche marble columns and crowned with a domed yellow-and-green skylight. A recently completed restoration returned the room to its original design not seen for over fifty years. The $6.5 million restoration included the re-creation of the original 1,800 square foot stained-glass lay light that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. It was covered up in the 1950s and not exposed until the renovation brought it back to life. The Palm Court's renovation also introduced new lighting and furnishings. The airy, romantic space within the legendary hotel is nothing short of breathtaking.

Tags: Afternoon Tea, awards-main, luxist-awards, Manhattan, New York City, Palm Court, Plaza Hotel, Tea

Continue reading “The Plaza Hotel's Palm Court Opens for Afternoon Tea Service”

Union Jack Collection from Viscount David Linley

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Decor, Men's Style

The latest design from bespoke cabinetmaker (and nephew of the Queen of England) Viscount David Linley is a line of elegant accessories featuring an inlaid Union Jack motif. Consisting of a humidor, jewelry box, tea caddy, cufflink box, and large and small picture frames, the exquisite and extremely British pieces pieces are finished in walnut with the flag artfully rendered in a marquetry of burr oak, burr walnut and ripple sycamore. Like Linley himself, the Union Jack boasts a royal lineage; the flag originated in 1606 after King James I of England was crowned, uniting the kingdoms of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The humidor, for about $2,000, is lined with Spanish cedar wood and has a built-in humidifier and hydrometer to preserve cigars. The jewelry box, for about $1,800, is lockable and lined in red faux suede with a compartmentalized, removable tray. The tea caddy, for about $1,000, is available in a limited edition of 25 pieces, and comes complete with a supply of Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend loose leaf tea. The cufflink box, for about $650, is lined in beige faux suede. The picture frames come in a large and small size for about $440 and $400.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: bespoke, British royalty, David Linley, England, Fortnum Mason, humidor, jewelry, Queen of England, tea, UK, Union Jack, Viscount Linley, walnut, wood

VivaTerra's Loose Leaf and Blooming Teas Gift Box

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Green

Whether you're a tea drinker yourself or just like to have it on hand to offer friends and family, this Loose Leaf and Blooming Teas gift box from VivaTerra is a beautiful and elegant way to store and serve hot tea. The box is made of sustainable wood and comes filled with six varieties (two of each makes twelve) of tea, with some herbal tea blends and some handwoven blooming teas that open into pretty flowers when placed in hot water to steep. All the teas are all stored in individual cleartop tins and refills are available. $69

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Tags: dining, gifts, hot drinks, HotDrinks, organic, tea, vivaterra

$2,500 Green Tea is Good for Health and Bragging Rights, Other Benefits Unknown

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Green

If price is the yardstick, then Masa Super Premium can certainly claim to be "King of Green"– in more ways than one. Royal Blue Tea began taking reservations last month for the 36 bottles that is has pledged to make of what must be the finest green tea... ever.

To do that making, "rare" leaves are picked in the prefecture of Shizuoka, where a great deal of the world's green tea hails from. They are infused for three days in their pure, naked state, and the resulting elixir is poured into 750-ml wine bottles. The bottle is put in a wooden box and voilà, somewhere in there you ended up with ¥210,000 ($2,271 U.S.) worth of verdant, liquid health.

The tea will be shipping in February and March of this year, so get in touch with Royal Blue if you think you'd be better off with one bottle of Masa than two round trip tickets and a spa weekend at the Mandarin Oriental. If you opt for the latter, though, you might want to take along a bottle of Royal Blue's Fall In Love imperial-grade tea, which will only set you back ¥10,500 ($114 U.S.).

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Tags: green tea, GreenTea, japan, masa super premium, MasaSuperPremium, royal blue, RoyalBlue, tea

Jasmine Cognac - Because Tea is for the Rabble

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

If you're a fan of jasmine tea, it will interest you to know that Jacques Cardin makes jasmine flavored cognac (pictured on the left). You can drink it neat or with ice, in a cocktail or, if you're fighting a cold, put it in your jasmine tea with honey for a clever hot toddy twist. We covered Jacques Cardin Cognac when it came out back in 2006, but as the days and nights get chillier, the Jasmin flavor sounds all the more enticing. One might call it "the tea drinker's cognac."

I spoke with Olivier Bugat, Vice President of Product Development at Sidney Frank Importing Company (who imports the JC cognac from France) about how Jacques Cardin Jasmin Cognac is made and why it's so special.

Luxist: How jasmine-flavored cognac made?

Olivier Bugat: Basically, it starts with the grapes. Once fermented, those grapes (now wine) are double distilled in copper pot stills. From there, the liquid is aged in French oak casks for a minimum of four years (because it is a VSOP). Finally, the master blender blends cognacs of different ages and crus to create the final product. The distillate of jasmin is added during the blending process.

L: What inspired it?

OB: After experimenting with various fruits, herbs, spices and flowers -- we, at Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., ultimately looked for the distillate that best complimented the characteristics of the eau de vie.

L: How do you recommend serving it?

OB: JC Jasmin can be enjoyed straight, in simple cocktails such as tonic and ginger-ale but is also a wonderful addition to classic cocktails such as the sidecar. The subtle jasmine and fresh herb finish makes JC Jasmin a cognac that can be mixed or stand alone.

If you're interested in trying a bottle of JC Jasmin Cognac (or the Apple or original flavors), visit internetwines.com.

Tags: alcohol, cognac, jacques cardin, JacquesCardin, jasmine, olivier bugat, OlivierBugat, sidney frank, SidneyFrank, tea

Jewel-Studded Coffee Mugs, Tea Cups, Drinking Glass

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Jewel-Studded Coffee Mugs, Tea Cups, Drinking Glass

A leading diamond manufacturer in India is offering a range of extravagant crockery that lets you sip hot coffee from a bejeweled mug for about $11,000. The melamine glass mug is studded with 8 carats of diamonds and 3 carats of colored stones set in 25 to 50 grams of gold. For tea lovers, there is a set of six tea cups for $9,600. Each cup is adorned with a replaceable glass design of 1.2 carat of diamonds set on 25 grams of gold. For platinum kids, there is a $1,500 milk glass festooned with 2 carats of rubies and 3 carats of diamonds studded on 20 grams of gold. Exhibited at Sparkle-09, a gem and jewelry exhibition, these products are all the rage among well-heeled inhabitants of India.

[Via LuxuryLaunches.com]

Tags: coffee, coffee cup, coffee mug, CoffeeCup, CoffeeMug, diamond, diamonds, glass, gold, India, mug, rubies, ruby, tea, tea cup, TeaCup

The Most Expensive Tea in the World

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Yachts & Sailing

TWG makes Singapore's most famous tea, and I had the good fortune of attending the opening day of their ION Orchard tea shop, where you can sample 400 teas from their 800-plus tea collection and purchase not only tea, but macaroons and tea accessories, as well.

Naturally, as a Luxist writer, I went straight for the gold -- the Yellow Gold Tea Buds (above), that is. Tea number T601 is not only TWG's, but the world's most expensive tea. Why? Because it's difficult to get -- and painted with actual gold.

I spoke for a bit with TWG tea connoisseur Alexandre Mallochet (his hand is pictured) about the tea and why it is so valuable -- $150 Singapore for 50 grams (that's about $105.71 -- and a typical teabag is about 2 grams, so that's 25 cups of tea).

To start with, it's only harvested on one mountain, one day per year. "This tea is harvested exclusively with golden scissors and only from the top of the tree which is the tea bud. It's then sun dried and placed into closed containers to slightly heat the tea leaves so they can release the polyphenols that they contain and give a yellowish colour to the leaves and a very soft and flowery taste," said Mallochet. The tea is then painted with 24 carat gold flakes which, in Asia, are considered very good for you, and give the tea a beautiful golden shimmer. Mallochet claims that the gold provides nutrition, as well -- it's a mineral, after all.

"It's the tea of the Emperors of China and it is still today very complicated to find some. TWG can access to this tea thanks the privileged relationships we cultivated through the years of sourcing tea plantations worldwide."

At this time, the tea is not available online, so you'll have to find a shop near you or go to Singapore to find some. You'd better hope the dollar keeps rising!

Even in this economy, tea, for the most part, is one area where consumers continue to go gourmet. For more information check out Daily Finance's recent piece on gourmet foods still selling well.

This trip was paid for by the Singapore Board of Tourism, but the views expressed within the post are 100% my own.

Tags: most expensive, MostExpensive, tea, TWG tea, yellow gold tea buds

100 Years of Royal Albert Teas by Royal Doulton - Small Splurge

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

Tired of drinking your tea out of some old mug you picked up at the office vendor fair? Try doing it the way the British do -- out of Royal Doulton china. The legendary company now offers "The 100 Years of Royal Albert Collection," which comprises two collections of 10 distinctive patterns that "capture the historical design statements and trends from the 10 decades of the 20th century that pay tribute to the Royal Albert brand's vitality, longevity and rich design history." Designed with classic shapes and delicate floral designs, this durable bone china will last long enough to become an heirloom. The two collections are "Best sellers from 1900 - 1940" (see below) and "Best sellers from 1950 - 1990" (this page). Each set is $130.

Gallery: 100 Years of Royal Albert Teas by Royal Doulton

Tags: beverages, china, Royal Doulton, RoyalDoulton, smallsplurge, smallsplurges, tea

Pret a Portea Comes To New York

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

The Prêt-A-Portea fashion tea which takes place at the Berkeley Hotel in London has finally jumped the pond. The tea which features fashion-friendly treats almost too pretty to eat will be available at Café BG at Bergdorf Goodman during New York Fashion Week, starting February 13. Fashion Week Daily reports that the au courant eats will include Michael Kors' red and blue striped Regatta dress done as a mousse, Chanel's quilted handbag as a petit four, an edible Christian Louboutin crystal pump complete with red sole.

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Tags: bergdorf goodman, BergdorfGoodman, fashion tea, FashionTea, pret-a-portea, tea

Herm�s Porcelain Tea Cups for Two

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

A steaming hot drink is one of the universal comforts of winter and what better way to enjoy yours than in a beautiful porcelain cup in the company of somebody you love? Hermès has a beautiful collection of cup and saucer sets that come in a variety of cheerful and colorful patterns, many of them with a jungle animal theme, and are sold in sets of two so you won't have to enjoy them alone. Or if you prefer your beverage in something more substantial you can always opt for one of the matching coffee mug designs which are equally beautiful. $320-$510

Gallery: Hermes Porcelain Tea Cups

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Tags: coffee, coffee cups, CoffeeCups, cup, cups, cups saucers, CupsSaucers, hermes, porcelain, tea, tea cup, tea cups, TeaCup, TeaCups

Hand Forged Silver Tea Spoon

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Next time you're sitting down for tea or coffee (like I am right now!) take a good look at the spoon you're using. Does it have much character? Individuality? Is it making the whole experience a little better just because it's there? Ha, that last one might be pushing it a little, but the point is that good silverware can really increase the "luxe" factor of any meal or dining experience.

This hand-forged silver tea spoon from Etsy is made by the seller from a block of sterling silver, with a slight pattern from hammering left visible on the handle and in the bowl of the spoon, and also the creator's initials and date stamped into the back. I think one (or a few) of these would make a great gift. $75 each.

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Tags: by hand, ByHand, cutlery, etsy, forged, hammered, hand, hand crafted, hand made, hand-forged, HandCrafted, handmade, kitchen, silver, silverware, spoon, sterling, tea

The Teastick

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Tea is very popular right now and from white and green teas to black tea, consumers are switching to loose-leaf teas, which deliver more flavor per cup. Described as one of the ideal tea infusers by Imbibe magazine, the Teastick is a great little gadget to complement your favorite loose-leaf tea. It is made of a solid piece of stainless steel with tiny holes that allow water into its main chamber to soak the tea leaves. The holes are small enough to keep even the finest teas out of the cup, while still brewing it to your exact specifications. The teastick has a small hook on top to prevent it from sliding into mugs and cups and can also be used as a stirrer, if you take milk or sugar. Price: $18.

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Tags: drink, drinks, tea, tea leaves, teastick, The Teastick, TheTeastick, trend

Tea Forte Valentine's Day Set

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Packed in an attractive red box, the Valentine's Day Gift Set from Tea Forte presents a nice change from the usual chocolates and roses (although combining all three is probably not a bad idea, either). The set is a personal tea service that will allow your loved one to pamper herself, or himself, with a relaxing cup of tea. The six infusers included have teas from Tea Forte's Exotics Collection, which includes "deliciously sensual and healthful blends," as well as a porcelain, lidded Café Cup, a wooden oval tray and two ceramic tea trays for resting the infusers. Price: $53.

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Tags: tea, Tea Forte, Tea Forte Valentine's Day Set, TeaForte, TeaForteValentine'sDaySet, valentine, Valentine's Day Set

Tea On The Go Package

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

I love ordering tea in a restaurant when they bring over the wooden box full of many selections. You can get a bit of this experience on the fly with this cute tea kit. It was designed for Leaf, the London tea shop by Parisian designers les Petites Emplettes. There were 500 of these limited edition tea travel kits made and only 25 in London. The kit has six mini tins that hold a one or two cups worth of tea and there are also paper filters all wrapped up in a felt bag. The kit sells for $95 from Hello Delicious, a new online boutique that specializes in gourmet delights.

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Tags: decor, gift, kit, leaf, limited edition, shopping, tea