InterContinental London – The O2 has launched a brand new Indian Inspired Afternoon Tea, Chai By The Shore. Designed by this year’s Bake Off: The Professionals winners, this afternoon tea combines traditional Western techniques with the rich, aromatic flavors of Indian cuisine, for an afternoon tea experience like no other. The exclusive afternoon tea launches today at the hotel’s in-house restaurant, Kinaara, which offers breath-taking views of the River Thames and Canary Wharf.
Chai By The Shore offers a unique afternoon tea fusing traditional teatime dishes with the sweet, spicy, hot aromatic flavors of Indian cuisine to create an expertly crafted menu. Reimagining the traditional afternoon tea, Kinaara’s chefs have combined their profound knowledge of spices with the culinary heritage of their backgrounds and cherished food memories, to create perfect pairings that seamlessly blend both cultures for an unforgettable culinary journey of sweet and savory treats. The delectable offerings are prepared daily by Kinaara at InterContinental London – The O2. Executive Pastry Chefs Narayan Shrestha and Tanuj Sharma, who are this year’s winners of Bake Off: The Professionals, have designed the menu using skills and techniques from some of the UK’s best chefs for an unforgettable culinary experience.
Perfectly merging the two cultures, tastes and flavors, the afternoon tea offers a combination of sweet and savory bites. To start with, the tea begins with a selection of traditional Indian street food delicacies including Dhai Puri, Bread Pakora and Paneer Puff, alongside honey glazed Ragstone goat’s cheese served with a fig compote, pistachio and beetroot bread, and a traditional Coronation Chicken sandwich with an Indian flare. Followed by an array of sweet treats to choose from, diners can enjoy pistachio and choux pastries, mango tart and potti yogurt cheesecake. The afternoon tea is perfectly finished off with a selection of scones and rusk, with traditional flavors such as clotted cream and rose and strawberry jams, fused with a burst of Indian delights including fennel rusk and butter milk namleka.
To elevate the afternoon tea further, InterContinental London – The O2 have teamed up with a specialist loose leaf tea company, JING Tea. Sourcing the highest quality, single garden teas directly from traditional tea origins across Asia, JING tea’s offer the perfect thirst-quenching tea to be savored alongside Chai By The Shore. Each of their hand-selected teas tells the captivating story of its provenance, master tea maker and culture through its distinctive taste, clarity and purity of flavour. With a unique selection of over 17 different tea blends, including a specially curated bespoke Kinaara blend, guests will be able to explore the very best examples of their favorite classic teas, or go on a taste journey to new Asian lands to complement the different dishes of the afternoon tea.
Served in the hotel’s beautifully designed fine dining Indian restaurant, Kinaara, this unique afternoon tea is accompanied by breath-taking views of the River Thames and London's Canary Wharf. The name Kinaara draws inspiration from the Hindi meaning of ‘on the edge of,’ perfectly reflecting its location on the edge of the riverbank, an inspiration for the afternoon tea name, Chai By The Shore. Offering diners the chance to savor and enjoy a plethora of rich and comforting flavors from across India and relax in the restaurant's stylish gold and purple hues, the restaurant is open from 5pm Tuesday-Saturday. Since opening in November 2022, Kinaara is proud to have been awarded 2 AA rosettes for Culinary Excellence twice, and have reached the Top 2 Restaurants in London on TripAdvisor, showcasing the top-quality cuisine and service.
The exclusive afternoon tea will be available 7 Days a week, 12pm -4pm £55 Afternoon Tea £70 Champagne Afternoon Tea