A Royal Treat - Afternoon Tea at Al Soor Relaunches on Charles III’s Coronation Day

Afternoon Tea is an iconic British tradition, so it makes perfect sense that Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya should relaunch its own elegant version at Al Soor Lounge on May 6, 2023 — the Coronation Day for Britain’s King Charles III. On launch day, delectable light bites will be served for a quintessentially British experience. Available every day thereafter from 2:00 to 6:00 pm in the sumptuous surrounds of Kuwait’s “place to see and be seen,” the Al Soor Afternoon Tea is a perfect excuse for a girls’ tête-à-tête in refined style.

The new Afternoon Tea menu - crafted by Executive Chef Thierry Papillier and his culinary team - features both savoury and sweet delicacies, and classics updated with thoughtful modern twists. Smoked salmon tartar is served with fresh waffle and sour cream, dill, onion and capers; creamy chicken with fresh truffle comes in a soft-as-a-cloud brioche bun; while an egg mimosa sandwich is flecked with chopped chives.

Sweet treats include strawberry tartlet, double chocolate choux, and date and saffron mousse cake. Traditional British favourite scones are straight-from-the-oven and served with clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd.

Enjoy with fragrant tea or coffee, served just so - King Charles is said to enjoy Darjeeling with organic honey and milk, with the honey placed in the cup before the tea is poured over. Queen Elizabeth II, on the other hand, was a fan of Earl Grey, served boiling hot with a splash of milk and no sugar.

The mouth-watering treats are presented in an artful étagère for Instagram-worthy moments shared with friends. The whole experience is elevated by the striking design of Al Soor with its dramatic soaring ceilings, bold gold-leaf glass screens, and contemporary style. Also known as the La Chocolaterie of Kuwait, Al Soor’s dazzling French chocolaterie counter offers 15 different hand-made truffles and pralines for an extra je ne sais quoi – making it the perfect place to pick up a prettily packaged treat for someone special.  

The British institution of taking tea in the afternoon is said to have been invented by the Duchess of Bedford around 1840, when industrialisation and gas lighting meant a later dinner, leaving a stomach-growling gap after lunch. The Duchess, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria, asked for tea, bread and butter, and cake to be sent to her room in the late afternoon. The rest, as they say, is history, with Afternoon Tea becoming a fashion that spread across Britain, and eventually much of the globe.