Best Afternoon Tea. Ever. The Intercontinental Hotel, Hong Kong

The one where I fell in love with tea (and fell a little more in love with Hong Kong)

Considering we only came here because we couldn't book the much touted Peninsular, it's even more gratifying that it turned out to be the best afternoon tea of all time.

I've enjoyed a few. It's one of my favourite meals and we knew we would partake in at least one as they are so talked about in Hong Kong. A positive left-over from the period of British rule.

There was a long-line at the Peninsular and despite what their website demanded, everyone was in extremely casual shorts and t-shirts appropriate for the sweltering heat outside.

We however, dressed in our Sunday best and even though there were a few people waiting for a table at the Intercontinental and the lounge was swapmed, we made our way to the front after a few minutes. Once there, we were welcomed and apologetically offered a table with full view over the harbour just because it was next to the stage where a band were setting up to entertain us.

From the moment the waiter arrived all dressed in white merging with the sea of white tables, we knew we  were in safe hands.

I had already decided I was going to ask for tea, realising during my first 48 hours in Hong Kong that my distaste for the drink only comes from English version that comes with milk. I asked for the recommendation to go with our tea and we were offered Marco Polo tea.

From the variety of perfectly sized warm scones served in napkin in silver basked to the generous hot towels, everything about this experienced oozed luxury. The savouries on the first layer of the looked as appetising as the cakes and pastries to follow.

The airy lobby lounge itself is as comfortable as your loving room at home and then the whole floor-to-ceiling thing that focussed our eyes on Victoria Harbour provided the backdrop.

The band behind us were fun rather than intrusive and the service throughout courteous. This is an experience that is stylish and yet unpretentious and presentation exquisite. 

And Marco Polo Tea. I am in love with tea.

There are other options, including the Red Box Chinese Tea Set, but we were thrilled with The Intercontinental Afternoon Tea and left with a few cakes boxed up in plastic containers we couldn't quite managed during the unhurried afternoon. They lasted us another 24 hours as we relived the memory with every lick of the lips.

Amazing value at HK$608. I urge you to find out more here.