From the classic to Asian contemporary, here are two High Tea options in the Cape Town CBD that are a real treat.
MOCHI MOCHI JAPANESE CAFÉ
If you’re after a tasty twist on tradition, Mochi Mochi Japanese Café has an afternoon tea that is the ideal indulgence.
Mochi Mochi is part of Tjing Tjing House, a group of modern Japanese eateries housed in a triple-storey 200-year-old building in Longmarket St that includes Torii, Momiji, Momiji Lounge, and the Rooftop Bar. Mochi Mochi is in Buitengracht St, but their Friday Afternoon Tea is served in a calm Japanese space at Momiji on the second floor of Tjing Tjing House.
Here Japanese flavours cleverly elevate Western classics in a series of dainty courses, a feast for the eyes even before you tuck in. Everything is painstakingly created in the Mochi Mochi Lab by talented head pastry chef Adri Morel.
“This is our take on scones, jam and cream," explains waitress Emma, serving the Sweet Moments course. Steamed buns with a matcha bean paste filling (it reminded me of “cookie dough” flavour) replace standard scones, slices eaten with kumquat jam and balls of whipped cream cheese, delivering salty-sweet, refreshing lemon-rind zing. Alongside, vanilla sponge with Chantilly cream has sweet potato “spaghetti” piped as a Sweet potato Mont Blanc. Strawberry choux cream partners macerated strawberry compote with matcha dust.
The Bread & Bites course highlights Asian savoury notes. Oh wow, a miniature milk bread loaf is filled with soy butter and smoked onion jam – a gorgeously umami flavour. Triple Cheese Cloud Cheesecake combines cream cheese, Camembert and Gruyère, delivering a perky tang.
There is lovely saltiness in Savoury Delights, a course with a Wagyu Menchi Katsu croquette of minced wagyu, soy-pickled onions and Karashi-su-miso sauce, while the Daikon Dango skewer is a play on a Japanese dessert, with daikon and spring onion draped in a shimeji mushroom soy caramel sauce. But Dashi Leek Tart with miso hollandaise is the showstopper, richness against its pastry flake, a dashi crumb on top.
One sweet treat deserves special mention: the Milk Bread Mottainai course is an ode to a Japanese milk bread loaf. It’s simultaneously umami, sweet and tastily comforting. "Mottainai" is Japanese for creating value through repurposing. So, milk-bread ice cream partners with soaked French toast, with Marmite (yes!) livening up a salted caramel sauce of repurposed bread – weird as that sounds.
Mochi’s tea offering of savouries and sweets is a delightfully different experience, and I’m hooked. Creative cocktails are offered (a mint and tropical tea mojito, or whiskey-laced Komodo), but I recommend sipping black tea to partner this deliciously rich repertoire of flavours and textures.
Momiji
Tjing Tjing House | 165 Longmarket St | 021 422 4374
www.tjingtjing.co.za | @mochimochi_za
Mochi Mochi Friday Afternoon Tea is usually held on the second Friday of the month from 15h00 | R495 per person (excludes drinks, service). Pescatarian or vegetarian alternatives on request (menus serve two).
TAJ CAPE TOWN
The elegant Taj Cape Town hotel is tucked into an historic part of Cape Town, some of its grand rooms overlooking St George’s Cathedral and The Company’s Garden, with majestic Table Mountain forming a backdrop.
Afternoon tea is served at tables and chairs in the lounge adjacent to the lobby and bar area. It’s rather pleasant to while away a few hours sipping tea and nibbling tasty bits in the original banking hall of the South African Reserve Bank building, watching global travellers pass back and forth. Look up and you’ll find signs of architectural remnants of some of the original columns and elements. The building was originally designed by architect James Morris, and the story goes that he commissioned an astronomer to build the dome.
In the tea area, comfortable décor pays tribute to the Indian-owned Taj Group’s heritage, featuring marble finishes and wall tapestries. A long counter displays a selection of sweet treats for guests to help themselves.
Our pots of fruit tea and Darjeeling arrive, as savouries are prepared in an adjacent restaurant, then served warm. Miniature salmon and cream cheese Swiss-roll sandwiches are followed by mini chicken quiche, and then Indian nibbles such as masala dosa spring roll and potato pakora, served with a refreshing minty yoghurt dipping sauce.
Head pastry chef Daisy Mashamaite creates sweet baked treats daily, usually setting out a table of assorted fresh cakes, tarts and two types of fresh scones with jam and fresh cream. Weekends are particularly popular for afternoon tea, but there is also plenty on offer even during our quieter weekday visit, the selection including carrot, chocolate and vanilla iced cakes (red velvet is also a hit).
As our flutes are filled with golden MCC, it’s a toss-up between a slice of light, fluffy vanilla cake or chocolate pistachio tart. But those stacks of dainty macarons look quite delightful in pastel tones too, hmmm ... We try a bit of it all, of course.
Taj Cape Town
1 Wale St | 021 819 2000
www.tajhotels.com | @tajcapetown
The Taj Indian-Cape Afternoon Tea is served daily from 14h00-16h00 | R345 per person, including tea or coffee. R395 with a glass of MCC.