A Cup of Simple Luxury

There are endless reasons to enjoy a cup of tea: For its renowned health benefits, an excuse to swap gossip and chat with friends, or simply for the taste of it. Sylviana Hamdani samples some of the best places in Jakarta for high tea.

High tea has lately become a hip social phenomenon in Jakarta. Glitterati du jour, business bigwigs and not-so-desperate housewives can be seen gathering in 5-star hotels, cafés and tearooms during the afternoon. In a city that rushes and flusters, tea provides an interlude, a momentary interval that halts the world for one blissful moment.

Jakarta boasts an array of stylish tearooms, lounges and cafés in which to savor the refreshing beverage. Here is our short list.

Located inside Glow, the new exclusive beauty and home-living store at Plaza Indonesia, Huize van Wely (Glow, Plaza Indonesia #179, Jl. MH Thamrin Kav. 28-30, Central Jakarta, tel. 021 392 8305) is ideal for a quiet gathering of friends or a romantic rendezvous. Its intimate surroundings are dominated by polished dark wood, rows of shelves bearing lavish handmade chocolates, desserts and traditional Dutch cookies. The sleek dining room features hanging crystal balls that emanate warm.

The famed Dutch patisserie is one of the more exclusive venues in town, serving nine flavors of gourmet French tea imported from the expert tea company Le Palais des Thes, as well as premium quality Camus Toraja Coffee. One of the favorites is Thé du Hammam. Inspired by a traditional Turkish recipe, the rich, fruity tea is flavored in the traditional Eastern manner with rose petals and orange flower water. Its voluptuous fragrance comes from the subtle combination of Chinese green tea, green date pulp and red fruits.

A high tea set for two (priced at Rp 290,000++) includes pasta, an elaborate three-tiered bonbonniere showcasing sweet-smelling homemade scones, sandwiches, mini vegetable quiche, saucijzbrood and delightful savories. A crisp amandel oublie (almond cookie) accompanies your selection of tea or coffee. The imaginative repertoire consummates with a scoop of straciatella (vanilla and chocolate) or choco chip ice cream. The single high tea set (Rp160,000++) includes tea or coffee, sweets and pastries, gourmet salad and soup of the day. Open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily, the venue serves high tea throughout the day.

The classy atmosphere of the Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta makes for a great start to any evening. Overlooking the impressive tropical gardens of the hotel, the lobby lounge (Kota BNI, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 1, Jakarta, tel. 021 570 7440) serves high tea from 3 to 7 p.m. daily.

The sumptuous buffet is an eclectic mix of favorites from the West and East, featuring wide selections of dim sum, raisin scones, crabcakes, samosas with mint chutney, traditional Andalusian gazpacho soup, delectable petit-fours, chocolate truffles, canapés, Indonesian traditional snacks as well as an array of fresh tropical fruits.

Priced at Rp 95,000++, high tea includes choice of coffee or tea (Darjeeling, Earl Gray, English Breakfast and herbal teas), and free Wi-Fi access.

The lifestyle section of the recently refurbished The Café (Hotel Mulia Senayan Jakarta, Jl. Asia Afrika, Senayan, Jakarta, tel. 021 574 7777) is fast becoming one of the city’s best tearooms. The stylish establishment -- already a culinary destination for society’s elite -- also serves afternoon teas from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. Its restrained creamy-hued interior, which combines plush Victorian-style armchairs, dramatic chandeliers and brilliant glass displays, not only offers a convenient spot for networking and socializing, but also a hip place to see and be seen.

There are two selections of afternoon tea sets. Indonesian Style (priced at Rp 98,000++) is a feast of the country’s traditional delicacies, such as Solonese Serabi infused with cheese and chocolate, plump croquette with vegetable ragout, traditional Dutch poffertjes and many others. The Classical Style (Rp125,000++) offers grand confections of tartlets, brownies and chocolate cakes, puff pastries and epicurean sandwiches on a three-tiered stand.

Guests may choose their teas from a chest of Dammann Frères, which showcases colorful bottles of sweet-smelling herbal tea leaves, served with natural honey. The Café also offers the rich and exotic brews of Opal Coffee Beans, including the exclusive civet coffee.

Now let us retreat into the tranquil recesses of The Dharmawangsa (Jl. Brawijaya Raya No. 26, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, tel. 021 725 8181). Modeled after a regal Javanese residence, the hotel serves high tea both in the morning, from 8 to 11 a.m., and in the afternoon between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. at the Tea and Library Lounges.

The entire ambience, with its well-preserved relics and vestiges of the 14^th century Majapahit kingdom, will spoil you with the classical splendors of ancient Javanese culture. The Tea Lounge is blessed with soft natural light filtering through from the discretely shuttered floor-to-ceiling windows. The Library carries a more subdued air with its rich timbers, intricate carvings and opulent furnishings. Both lounges are smoke-free, making them a friendly environment for babies and young children.

High tea is served on a side-stand featuring voluptuous raisin-studded scones, chocolate praline, finger sandwiches, mini pastries and Indonesian favorites, presented with a single red rose. The Dharmawangsa offers a range of flavored black teas from the French line Le Thé and unique herbal tea concoctions with special health purposes. One of the most popular is the Anti-Flu Tea, which combines peppermint, sage, chamomile, thyme, elderflower and lime flower to improve the immune system and relieve coughs and sore throats.

For Rp 195,000++, you’ll also enjoy a live performance of gamelan or Sundanese flute and harp while sipping your choice of tea or coffee. The Indonesian Corner, a snack bar in the majestic Majapahit Hall, near the lounges, also serves assorted traditional Javanese cakes neatly arranged on a polished teakwood table. For coffee, try the freshly ground Sumatra or Toraja infused with cinnamon, ginger or vanilla.

As you nibble on the sinfully scrumptious raspberry mille-feuille, golden glows of sunset recede from the soft manicured lawns of The Dharmawangsa, and you will be tempted to linger over your tea until the cows come home, or perhaps until the last socialite calls it a day.

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