Hi guys! Today I'll be sharing all about the Noritake x Celest Thoi collaboration with Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, as well as the accompanying Afternoon Tea set now available at Lounge on the Park.
Finally, a new high tea post! It feels like it's been a lifetime since my last high tea session, even though only 2 years have passed. I used to enjoy trying out different hotels' afternoon tea sets, and one of the ones I really wanted to try out was Mandarin Oriental's. Funny enough, my last high tea session was actually at Mandarin Oriental in 2019, but it was a short visit as I actually dropped by to meet someone (not really a leisure visit). If you'd like to read all about it + to see how the Lounge on the Park looks, please click here.
This time around, I was invited by Mandarin Oriental to come try out their latest afternoon tea set, as well as to discover their new collaboration with Noritake Japan and Celest Thoi.
Founded in 1904, Noritake is a fine china brand that has been bringing beauty and quality to dining tables around the world. With superior artistry and craftsmanship, attention to detail and uncompromising commitment to quality, Noritake is an acknowledged leader in tableware with products sold to customers in over 100 countries.
Mandarin Oriental KL and Noritake have collaborated with bridal fashion designer Celest Thoi to create a set of delightful chinaware. Hailing from New Zealand, Celest Thoi relocated to Kuala Lumpur in 2009 where she started creating with the design philosophy of "simple, elegant * timeless". She is best known by her designs using beautiful lace, quality fabrics, intricate embroideries, beadwork & details.
As the first designer outside of Japan to be commissioned by Noritake, Celest Thoi’s specially designed chinaware set is exclusively sold in Malaysia.
According to Christian Tavelli, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, “This collaboration is our way of celebrating local designers and presenting an elevated tea experience, not just with our selection of premium teas but having our afternoon tea presented on Japan’s foremost name in fine chinaware, Noritake.”
Along with the fine china collaboration is an afternoon tea set, which I'll be talking about more later.
You may view the items from the collection in Mandarin Oriental, and the display is located in front of Lounge on the Park:
They are available as a set as well, making for perfect gifts for friends, family or even yourself.
So, on with the food!
Prepared by Pastry Chef Suzana Anwar and team to brighten up tea connoisseurs’ mid-day tête-à-tête, this afternoon tea set will be available from 15 March to 31 May 2021.
Priced at RM 158 per person, the Noritake x Celest Thoi Afternoon Tea is available from 2.30 to 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays, while on Sundays from 3 to 6pm.
For reservations, you can contact them at +60 (3) 2330 8798 or email mokul-fb@mohg.com
MENU:
PASTRIES
Lychee rose macaron
Green tea Adzuki vanilla roll
Honey ginger persimmon tart
Sakura blossom yogurt milk pudding
Japanese strawberry shortcake
Mochi snow skin raspberry cheesecake
SANDWICHES
Egg sandwich with white bread
Japanese style chicken salad on green tea bread
Crab mayonnaise with cucumber salad & rice cracker
BBQ eel with soba noodle on the charcoal bun
Black sesame seed scone and green tea scone
Homemade strawberry jam, Orange Marmalade, Clotted Cream
With a selection of premium exotic teas in presentation for your choosing
With a selection of premium exotic teas in presentation for your choosing
When I arrived, we were asked to select our choice of tea, and we were quite spoiled for choice!
I was really interested in the Coconut Truffle, so I gave it a go.
I have to say, the fine china really complemented the table setting well, giving me a bit of Japanese vibes. Since all of us can't go sakura viewing this year, maybe this is a more delectable alternative? Haha
There were four of us at our table, so we got two stands. For those of you out there who are curious or are planning to drop by and take pictures, I highly recommend getting the tables new the windows. The lighting will be much better and you'll get your instagrammable shot!
As always, I started off with the scones and worked my way up the rack. The green tea scones didn't really taste like green tea to me (maybe because I used too much jam haha), but I really enjoyed the black sesame seed scones. The black sesame seeds really added a nice texture to the scones, and I loved it with the orange marmalade. Both were nice and not dry at all (unlike other hotels lol), and I quite enjoyed them.
The BBQ eel with soba noodle on the charcoal bun was a creative piece, and I actually thought it was duck at first glance. The unagi was nicely done and it wasn't too salty.
At first I was a bit underwhelmed by the appearance of the crab mayonnaise with cucumber salad & rice cracker, but it ended up being my fave savoury item!
The two other sandwiches were alright, nice and light.
On the second tier I started with the Honey ginger persimmon tart, which wasn't really reminiscent of any ginger in my opinion. The Mochi snow skin raspberry cheesecake however was to die for!
Super delectable, the cheesecake inside is the perfect amount of soft and sweet. The raspberry in the middle adds a nice punch while the snow skin outside really reminded me of snowskin mooncakes which I love.
The Japanese strawberry shortcake was nice and it wasn't dry or crumbly.
Although I really loved the snowskin cheesecake, my fave from this tier would have to be the Green tea Adzuki vanilla roll. It was so good that I was taken to dessert heaven & fully forgot to take a solo picture of it haha. It's just that good! If I could buy this individually on a daily basis, I definitely would.
On top, I started with the Sakura blossom yogurt milk pudding. It was a bit of a palette cleanser because the yogurt part was a bit more flat/reminded me of tau fu fa, but the sakura flower gave it a tangy twist.
Finally I wrapped it all up with the Lychee rose macaron. It was pretty nice, and the cream on top complemented the macaron without making the entire combo too sweet.
I dropped by for tea around 2.30pm and although we could leave around 3.30, I actually ended up staying until 6.30. The food was good enough that I wanted to stay and savour it, and the ambience was as cozy as ever. I met new friends and we ended up chatting away, almost not noticing how much time had passed.
If you're looking for a place to hang out, chill, or to have a change of scenery, I recommend dropping by for a high tea session. Although the place was full, all the seats are placed apart. The staff were all safe and sanity as well, with masks in place & following a strict SOP.
As I mentioned, the Noritake x Celest Thoi items are also located at Lounge on the Park, so do drop by if you'd like to view these one of a kind pieces of art.
And that's it for this post! I hope you guys found it helpful and informative.
See y'all in my next post!
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