As soon as we heard that dessert king Adriano Zumbo was launching a signature High Tea like no other at the QT Hotel, we knew this would be something very special. Welcome to QTea.
From the moment you step inside the doors of the quirky and theatrical QT Hotel, you feel like Alice entering into a magical Wonderland. This is a venue that takes it’s customer experience seriously but wears it lightly and delivers it with a bit of sass, so every person feels like a VIP but it’s not stuffy – perfect for a non-traditional High Tea.
The table settings are elegant and pared back to only feature black, white and gold; so the colourful treats pop and your social pics can shine! There is a unique mix of 5 savoury and 5 sweet treats, with not a cucumber finger sandwich in sight (hurrah!) along with signature tea choices. For a truly indulgent afternoon, you can add on Mumm or Perrier-Jouet champagne to elevate your QTea experience even further.
The High Tea arrives in a revolving black Pandora’s box-like tower with each of the treats peeking out from the tiered holes. We are encouraged to start at the bottom with the savoury options before ascending to the dessert king’s sugary heights. We loved the champagne lobster on a not-too-sweet brioche bun with an unusual flavour rush of coconut and lime mayo. More, please! Vegetarians are looked after with options like the Garden Patch with pea, mint and carrots with edible flowers in a pink beetroot base and a yummy Goat Cheese Tart featuring Meredith goats cheese with confit tomatoes and asparagus.
We move onto the famous boldly coloured sweets and signature tea. A non-traditional Scone is served with lemon myrtle infused strawberry jam from Tasmania and clotted cream. The signature Passionfruit tart is a work of art with vivid sunset tones which jumps off the plate – and the flavour is as sensationally passionfruity as it looks. The macaroons (or rather, Zumbarons) are a treat with flavours ranging from banana to blueberry. However, the V4 is the real surprise: it looks somewhat unassuming compared to the colour pops of the other sweets, but the mix of vanilla, lemon, sesame and yuzu curd is a light, almost frothy concoction on a biscuity base. Tea options are as quirky as the food. It was somewhat discombobulating to be drinking blue-coloured tea that tasted of lemon and ginger – you are definitely in Wonderland now!
QT is no ordinary hotel and this is not your ordinary High Tea. Zumbo has created food theatre from beginning to end, so grab your gang and follow Alice down the rabbit hole indulging in the riot of colours and sip-sational flavours.
QTea High Tea at the QT Hotel
Level 1 Foyer, 49 Market St, Sydney
3 seatings on Saturday and Sunday: 11am, 1pm and 3pm
QTea from $95 per person, $115 per person with Mumm Sparkling,$125 per person with NV Perrier-Jouët ‘Grand Brut’
