A Classic British Tradition and a Dash of the Unexpected in London

One expects the British tradition of afternoon tea to be rather straightforward—tea in delicate cups, pastries on intricate tiers. But, thanks to Head Pastry Chef Biju Joshwa, afternoon tea at The Palm Court in the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane is anything but expected.

The idea is that keeping the menu fresh, including changing it eight times per year and always looking for new approaches, helps The Palm Court’s tea tradition stand out in a crowd of tea times. That doesn’t just mean exciting new flavors, although Joshwa’s use of seasonal flavors like rhubarb, cardamom and saffron during summer does spice things up. It also means beautiful presentation. “When it comes to pastry and dessert, people eat with their eyes,” Joshwa says, “It has to be delicious, but it also has to be beautiful, to be ‘wow’!”

That ‘wow’ could come in response to top hat shaped pastries with the Lock & Co Hatters logo to celebrate the world’s oldest hatmaker. ‘Wow’ could also mean a gluten-free, lactose-free and egg-free birthday cake whipped up in a day. As Joshwa says, “It’s great to give people something they’ll never forget.”

But the experience Joshwa creates at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane goes beyond flavors and presentation to satisfy something more than hunger. His one-of-a-kind afternoon tea creates a connection point for travelers world-wide, bringing to life this time-honored ritual that provides the opportunity to meet, dine and experience something together.