Tea at grand floridian?

[mikefromny]

Hi all , whats the afternoon tea at the grand floridian like and how long does it take? thanks :wave:

[Johnie]

It's very nice. We've been several times. How long it takes really depends on you and what you order. I'd say to allow at least an hour.

[Slowhand]

They serve the tea in a small dining area at the end of the main lobby.
You are given a wide variety of teas to choose from along with some sandwiches and cakes.
It`s a pleasant way to spend an hour or so relaxing in there and most folks tend to dress up in smart casual attire although I have occasionally seen folks in there in their park clothes which seemed a bit out of place.

[Keith]

Are they all flowery teas or do they have nice "normal" teas too ;)

[Slowhand]

Are they all flowery teas or do they have nice "normal" teas too ;)
Well I`m not an expert [actually I don`t normally drink tea at all Keith], but they have all sorts on offer. Earl Grey, Darjeeling are 2 that spring to mind...didn`t notice any PG Tips though!:lol:

[Johnie]

Traditional Tea Selections

Tea selections are $5.95 per person

Custom Blends
Made exclusively for Gardenview Tea Room.

Gardenview Blend - A signature blend made exclusively for Gardenview Tea Room.

Princess Breakfast Tea - A sweet custom blend of South African organic rooibos flavored with vanilla bean and a hint of strawberries. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, and naturally decaffeinated.

White & Green Teas
The most delicate of teas: White teas are highly prized because of their consistency of top buds and leaves only. Named after the silver down hairs that cover the young unopened bud.
China green tea is known for its mild and subtle taste, refreshing aroma, and pale hues. The leaves range in appearance from silver to deep emerald. Japanese tea leaves are often brilliant green, reminiscent of the lush gardens they are grown in. They produce liquor that range from jade green to light yellow, with a fragrant puckery and slightly sweet taste.

Jade Leaf Green Tea - Hand picked then withered and gently dried for delicacy and a hint of sweetness. Naturally low in caffeine.

Floral Jasmine Green - Delicately perfumed with golden jasmine blossoms with fresh mellow overtones and a slightly astringent finish. Sweet, slightly tannic finish.

Jasmine White - Scented multiple times with fresh jasmine blossoms for a delicate aroma of golden Jasmine and outstanding liquor. Naturally very low in caffeine.

Black Teas
Fully fermented, gaining color and character from the processing of the leaves.

Osmanthus Oolong - Top grade oolong tea from Formosa delicately scented with rare Osmanthus flowers for a broad and unique flavor. Highly coveted and prized for its champagne aroma and deep rich flavor.

Imperial English Breakfast - Elegant and refined smooth sweetness. A blend of Ceylon and China Black Teas.

Russian Earl Grey - Inspired by the old tradition of shipping tea with lemon for flavor: Made from the rind of spicy Bergamot orange to give the exotic blend of citrus.

Eros - Medium bodied Ceylon: Sweet Mandarin orange with warm vanilla for a sweet, smooth and creamy finish.

Cassis - A rich black currant flavor for an exceptionally aromatic and sweet finish.

Mad Hatter - A blend of passion fruit, pomegranate, and vanilla for a clean and sweet finish. Perfect with decadent desserts and companions.

Herbal Infusions
A collection of herbs, flowers, fruits, berries, or spices from around the world. Herbal Infusions are naturally caffeine free.

Chamomile Flowers - A tranquil and calming herbal infusion of sweet and fragrant golden chamomile blossoms combined for a mild and sweet taste. Soft and musty aroma combined with a smooth, apple-like finish.

Harmony - A tranquil blend of sweet chamomile blossoms, peppermint, allspice and orange blossoms for a mild and sweet taste.

Lemon Verbena - Naturally caffeine-free, a refreshing infusion of lemon verbena, lemongrass, lemon balm, and lemon peel; a favorite during the summertime.

Jamaican Spice - A zesty herbal infusion with red liquor and a bouquet of flavors, tartness of hibiscus and sweetness of cinnamon for a sweet, tangy, and spicy finish.

Nobo Whole Fruit - Full bodied and rich in sweetness. An array of berries and apple, accompanied with hibiscus, rose hips, and cornflowers.

Vanilla Rooibos - Rich and full bodied with creamy vanilla finish.


Afternoon Tea Offerings

The Grand Tea - The classic English tradition of Afternoon Tea, Grand Floridian style. We offer you a variety of tea sandwiches, scones and jam tarts, followed by your choice of our freshly baked tea pastries or English trifle, accompanied by a glass of Domaine Ste.-Michelle sparkling wine and your choice of tea. $25.50 per guest (Example of tea sandwiches may include: cucumber with watercress, shrimp salad with dill, chicken salad with almonds, grilled pear with gorgonzola, and egg salad, each on a different bread.)

Prince Edward's Tea - A delicious array of assorted pates, and English Blue Stilton, the "King" of English cheeses, served with marinated fresh berries, and Cumberland sauce. We then offer our delicious fresh-baked scones served with rich Devonshire cream. Your choice of our tea with a glass of our Fonseca Bin 27 Character Port. $21.00 per guest

Buckingham Palace - Our traditional tea sandwiches, scones and jam tarts complemented by fresh strawberries and cream, or a selection of freshly baked pastries, along with your choice of tea. $19.50 per guest

Sally Lunn Tea - Sally Lunn bread dates back to the 18th century where it was baked fresh, then sold on the streets of Bath England by the creator. Here at the Grand Floridian, we have carried on this tradition of this sweet yeast bread served lightly toasted with apricot preserves. This is followed by a choice of either trifle or strawberries and cream, along with your choice of tea. $13.50 per guest.

Mrs. Potts Tea - For the young tea lover in your party, we offer a variety of tea sandwiches, tuna salad, ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly on white bread. We serve our Mad Hatter tea (chocolate milk), followed by a choice of two pastries $10.50 per guest

A La Carte Offerings

British Cheese Plate - a selection of traditional British cheeses, served with an array of seasonal fruit $12.50

Gentleman's Tea Platter - house-made duck and cherry terrine, chicken & pork roulade, country pate en croute, accompanied by marinated berries, cumberland sauce and English Blue Stilton $10.50

Plate of Assorted Tea Sandwiches - $8.50

English Blue Stilton Cheese - served with walnuts and marinated berries $6.95; served with Foncesca Port $12.75

Strawberries and Cream - $6.95

English Trifle - $6.95

Freshly Baked Scones with Devonshire Cream and Preserves - $3.50

Two Jam Tarts - $3.50

Sally Lunn Bread - $3.50

Lemon Pound Cake - $3.50


Pastries $2.75 each

Specialty Drinks include: Brandy Alexander, Champagne Cocktail, Grand Mimosa - $7.50

A variety of beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic are available)

Non-Alcoholic:
Press Pot Colombian Coffee $5.95
Press Pot Colombian Decaf Coffee $5.95
Espresso $3.19
Cappuccino $3.69
Hot Chocolate $2.19
Milk (hot or cold) $2.19
Chocolate Milk $2.19
Coke, Sprite, or Diet Coke $2.19
Apple or Orange Juice $2.29
Mineral Water $3.25

Selections from the bar:
Fonseca Bin 27, Character, N.V. $7.00
B & B $9.00
Budweiser $6.00
Miller Lite $6.00
Coors Light $6.00
Samuel Adams $6.50
Heineken $6.50
Bass Ale $6.75
Stella Artois $6.75

Champagne and Sparkling Wine:
Taittinger La Francaise Brut, N.V. $74.00 per bottle
Moet et Chandon White Star, N.V. $74.00 per bottle
Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee Brut, Sonoma '97 $10.50 per glass, $55.00 per bottle
Domaine Ste.-Michelle, Blanc de Blanc, Columbia Valley $7.50 per glass, $34.00 per bottle
Martinelli Sparkling Cider $5.50 per glass, $22.00 per bottle

*Wine and Spirits available upon request.

[Keith]

Well I`m not an expert [actually I don`t normally drink tea at all Keith], but they have all sorts on offer. Earl Grey, Darjeeling are 2 that spring to mind...didn`t notice any PG Tips though!:lol:

:rofl:

I'm very much an English breakfast kinda guy or Orange pekoe at a stretch :D

[Slowhand]

Now you are talking Johnie.
Who needs tea when you can have champagne instead? [Apart from the cost that is! :shocked025:]

[Keith]

WOW Thanks Johnie!

Yep, champagne sounds perfect :lol:

[Johnie]

:p I have been known to ask for a Coke at times. That is, until I learned I like my tea with milk.

The Sally Lund bread is really, really good.

[luvthemouse]

The Jamaican Spice tea is wonderful!! And it has a interesting red color..
We really enjoyed the tea the day we went. I'm hoping to fit it in again this trip..

[Slowhand]

Yeah, milk is far better in tea than Coke Johnie! :lol:

[Johnie]

:lol: you always make me laugh.

[Keith]

That is, until I learned I like my tea with milk.


now please tell the rest of the US that tea is taken with MILK not CREAM and the world will be a better place :lol:

Actually we were at H&V once and they brought us tea with cream. I said argh no milk please. Now insert five minute comedy sketch here with waitress saying "milk? you dont want tea now?" etc... anyway end of it, she walked off and I heard another server say to her "whats the matter with them?" she said "they're english" the other one said "oh sure" :rofl:

[Tink]

Well, I'm the dissenting voice here. :sigh; (Not only do I like cream in my tea :eek: ) but I had the worst High Tea at the GF. :(

I'll take the time to drive to Mount Dora and visit the Windsor Rose for a proper High Tea from now on. :yes:

I know that it was probably just an off day, but spending nearly $100 and getting dry scones, sandwiches so old the edges of the bread were curling up, nasty berries and flat champagne, served by a woman who just didn't care a bit was more than I want to re-live. :shrug:

[Debbie2]

It's a nice experience but we felt it was expensive for what we got and the sandwich fillings were yuk.

[Keith]

Not only do I like cream in my tea :eek:

Tink, Tink, Tink.... where DO I start

[PsychoAlice]

Umm Im doing this on Sept 14th...and going with a fully tattooed guy...Im not changing my clothing...but if its nasty I am gonna go with not going...sounds like a waste of time...

[Britchick]

i did it once and it was cute but i prefer our afternoon teas in the UK.

oh and a little tip for you, dont go on the tea cups in MK afterwards:oops:

[kazzaqld]

I really enjoyed it when we went!


The servers were lovely, they explained everything very well, and the food was very nice.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience Tink - that's a real shame. It is one of my favourite memories of last trip. Of course part of that could be that we banished the boys and just did a girls afternoon with some of the nicest company you could have. :hug2:

[BouncyTigger]

I have always wanted to try afternnon tea at GF. Thanks Johnie for the menu. :p015:

[Tink]

Sorry Keith. :sorry: I like cream in my coffee and my tea, or I'll drink my tea plain with no cream and no sugar (never the coffee though, that baby has to be drowned in cream and sugar). :sorry:

I know, I know. :sigh;

[Keith]

Sorry Keith. :sorry: I like cream in my coffee and my tea, or I'll drink my tea plain with no cream and no sugar (never the coffee though, that baby has to be drowned in cream and sugar). :sorry:

I know, I know. :sigh;

I'm only joking :) and of course many teas are just not suitable for cream or milk anyway.

[Tink]

I pretty much stick to Irish Breakfast tea, and once in a great while one called Four Fruits. (I don't put the cream in the fruity one).

I fell in love with the milk in Ireland (for my tea) and that's what started it. Their milk is more like our cream. :yes: Plus, their wonderful sugar cubes. :D LOVED the tea there. I came to understand why Ireland is a nation of tea drinkers. :yes:

[piglet]

I really love the afternoon tea at the GF. We've never had a bad meal there once. DD and myself go for the Grand tea 'cos you get a glass of wine with that (and we usually have another one as well). DGD had the Mrs Potts tea but as she is now 13 I can't see her having that again. I love the sandwiches and the cakes and yummy. We always end up staying for at least 1 1/2 hours cos we just love the surroundings, it's very twee and reminds me of tv programmes like Upstairs, Downstairs.

[Tink]

"very twee." I had someone (an English woman from Newcastle) say that about Disney recently. I wasn't exactly sure what it meant?

So then? What does it mean? "Posh?" :unsure:

[Slowhand]

"Twee" is sort of prim and proper Tink.

[Tink]

Ah. I see. I thought it was more like "hokey." Twee. I like that then! :D

[piglet]

"Twee" is sort of prim and proper Tink.

You know Tink, that's just so like me :lol: :lol:

[Tink]

That makes two of us! :yes: Twee and BC lovers! :D (And admirers of that precious little boy)! :yes:

[uscwest]

Count me in as one who enjoys the Afternoon Tea at the GF. Donna and I had hoped to partake of one in London last summer but alas it just did not happen.

[lisaw]

I just had a look at the afternoon tea menu for the Ritz in London as I did that years ago with my mum one mothers day. It's £37 for the tea and £48 for the tea with champagne! Think I may go to the Grand Floridian tea now as that seems like a complete bargain compared to those prices! :D

[Keith]

I just had a look at the afternoon tea menu for the Ritz in London as I did that years ago with my mum one mothers day. It's £37 for the tea and £48 for the tea with champagne! Think I may go to the Grand Floridian tea now as that seems like a complete bargain compared to those prices! :D

cough! yeah way to make the GF look cheap :lol:

[Beccaberry]

I've gone for tea twice now at the GF both we're for special events which I was invited to attend vs. attending simply because I booked. While I enjoyed it, I don't think I would book it independently as I just didn't think it was anything extraordinarily special...in my case, it was the company that I enjoyed, not really the tea and cakes. Having said that, when Jon and I were on our cruise in February, the ship offered tea at noon each day, and I found that I enjoyed that IMMENSELY. The food was scrumptious and their tea selection (with cream, sorry Keith) was phenomenal! It was always such a relaxing part of our day!

[piglet]

That makes two of us! :yes: Twee and BC lovers! :D (And admirers of that precious little boy)! :yes:

And guess who's going to see him on the 22nd. I am so excited :excited001::excited001: Haven't seen him for 3 months except for on webcam and can't wait to go down to England and meet both DS, DDIL and little Isaac

[Tink]

Oh gosh! :9: Time is getting close!! Take some new photos, ok? That is one precious boy! :yes: I'll bet you'll faint when you see how big he's grown! :eek:

[piglet]

cough! yeah way to make the GF look cheap :lol:

I went way back in about 2000 when I was working in the city. Yes, it is very expensive but it is such a fantastic thing to do even if it's only once in your lifetime. The little harp playing but not intrusively, the bathrooms are unbelievable, food absolutely fantastic. Yes it was brill

[Wendy]

I'll take the time to drive to Mount Dora and visit the Windsor Rose for a proper High Tea from now on. :yes:




We are going there this time, you recommended it to us last year, but we never got round to visiting but it is on the list for this year :D

[Tink]

Oh gosh, I bet it will be so pretty at Christmas! :yes: It's the loveliest little place Wendy. There is a lake and the village proper is set up for walking. Little shops, and some are even interesting! :lol: There are many other places to eat, other than Windsor Rose. We just like to go there because it's different from usual American places. :yes:

There is the nicest linen shop! Oh, and some really neat "unique" sort of places that have great things. Kind of defies description. :lol:

If you get there a bit early in the day, you'll find handy parking along the street and it's FREE! :eek: How's that for unheard of! :lol:

If you want to be adventuresome you can to to the Yalaha Bakery in Yalaha FL on the way. :yes: We can give you directions to there too. They are wonderful and people come from all over just to go to that bakery. And! It's OUT in the boonies! :lol: You'll be amazed when you see. :yes:

[Keith]

I went way back in about 2000 when I was working in the city. Yes, it is very expensive but it is such a fantastic thing to do even if it's only once in your lifetime. The little harp playing but not intrusively, the bathrooms are unbelievable, food absolutely fantastic. Yes it was brill

maybe next time I'm down on business :yes:

[lisaw]

Oh gosh, I bet it will be so pretty at Christmas! :yes: It's the loveliest little place Wendy. There is a lake and the village proper is set up for walking. Little shops, and some are even interesting! :lol: There are many other places to eat, other than Windsor Rose. We just like to go there because it's different from usual American places. :yes:

There is the nicest linen shop! Oh, and some really neat "unique" sort of places that have great things. Kind of defies description. :lol:

If you get there a bit early in the day, you'll find handy parking along the street and it's FREE! :eek: How's that for unheard of! :lol:

If you want to be adventuresome you can to to the Yalaha Bakery in Yalaha FL on the way. :yes: We can give you directions to there too. They are wonderful and people come from all over just to go to that bakery. And! It's OUT in the boonies! :lol: You'll be amazed when you see. :yes:

We are going to visit Mount Dora next year, thanks for all that info Tink - I was wondering about the parking having never visited a 'small town' in the US before, around Orlando you just park outside wherever you need to be :lol: We will get there early - we always get everywhere early :lol: so the free parking sounds great!

I will definitely be asking for directions to that bakery nearer the time Tink :yes:

[Slowhand]

We are going to visit Mount Dora next year, thanks for all that info Tink - I was wondering about the parking having never visited a 'small town' in the US before, around Orlando you just park outside wherever you need to be :lol: We will get there early - we always get everywhere early :lol: so the free parking sounds great!

I will definitely be asking for directions to that bakery nearer the time Tink :yes:
Mount Dora really is a nice place to visit. There is a really nice restaurant on the lakeside called Pisces Rising which is recommended.
We`ve never had any problems in finding somewhere to park...usually right outside the restaurant is where we aim for.

[Tink]

You should really enjoy your visit there! :yes: Pices Rising is a very popular restaurant and there are some lovely views of the lake from there too. :yes:

I think (but am not positive) that you can take a little cruise on the lake. :yes:

The bakery is west of Mt. Dora so the best bet would be to head there first (as all good bakeries, the best selection is in the early morning) then go to Mt. Dora.

Don't faint now! When you get to the bakery you will actually find REAL bread! :lol: YES

[SleepinCatz]

My Mom and I had a lovely time...so much so that My Dh and Ds want to take me to tea again lol.

and yes...I take milk with my tea :)