Tea time conjures up visions of a warm teapot under the afternoon sun, perhaps in a garden or corner dining area filled with light from welcoming windows. Friends gathered around the table smiling and laughing, catching up on each other’s lives while snacking on English finger sandwiches, tea cookies, and delicious little cakes and treats to enjoy. Afternoon tea is a time-honored tradition across many places in the United Kingdom and Europe, and here at Petrossian we’re quite the tea aficionados as well.
From our selection of gourmet teas, to all the accoutrements, we’re here to make tea time even more memorable. Pour over our ideas below on how to add a touch of Petrossian luxury and a dash of caviar to your next tea time gathering with friends.
English Finger Sandwiches
A staple at nearly every tea table are finger sandwiches. Traditional variations include cucumber and dill, salmon and cream cheese, egg salad, and ham and brie, but there’s no reason you have to stick to traditions alone. Some of our favorite recipes are combinations of the traditional, while a few variations offer something different entirely.
From our perspective, cucumber sandwiches on their own can be a bit blasé, so we prefer to combine the cucumber and dill with our own smoked salmon. Rather than add the dill separately, our Dill Marinated Tsar-Cut® Salmon is perfectly flavored fresh out of the package. Drop the cream cheese and replace with the luxurious texture and flavor of crème fraîche for the perfect combination of cucumber and smoked salmon in a tiny tea sandwich you won’t want to put down.
Egg salad sandwiches are certainly a staple at most afternoon tea tables, and we do find them quite enjoyable. To take them to the next level, however, add a thin layer on the inside of each slice of bread with any of our delectable taramas & tournades. With King Crab, Wasabi, and Salmon variations to choose from, it adds just the right amount of zing to your basic egg salad sandwich that will delight your taste buds.
For a variation with meat, ham and brie will do just fine, but why serve “just fine’ when you can be absolutely fabulous instead? Swap out the basic boiled ham for the intoxicating combination of sweet and salty flavors and delicate aromas of terroir that can only be found in Jamon Iberico Dry Cured Ham. The juicy, distinctive flavor will meld with the brie in your mouth in a way you’ve never imagined.
Honeys & Jams
Whether you’re drizzling honey in your tea or over your crisps, or spreading a little jam on some scones or toast, there’s no reason to settle for common selections. With a wide variety of Petrossian jams in flavors ranging from cherry to clementine, as well as the traditional berry flavors, there’s something for everyone at the tea table.
French cherries, strawberries, and hand-picked hillside blueberries are just the beginning. Our Pineapple Jam is fresh and fruity, hand crafted in France with a unique flavor that will bring a touch of summer to tea time regardless of the season. Clementine Jam may sound a bit tangy, but we’ve tamed their wild essence into a rich, satisfying jam that will delight your guests.
For tea time honey, local is usually favored, with variations around wildflower, buckwheat, and other honey types based on the flowers which the bees pollinated. However, one thing local honey doesn’t have that Petrossian does is the la Truffle collection’s Summer Truffle Honey. Arriving in the senses with an earthy, sharp garlic tone, these fresh summer truffles give way to notes of porcini mushroom, chocolate and even hazelnut on the sweet honey finish. Oooh la la!
Sweet & Salty Finish
As the afternoon winds down, tea cookies and crisps are a closing delight. We know that mini pound cakes and butter cookies usually accompany afternoon tea, but we propose a better alternative. Salted Caramel Crisps will melt-in-your-mouth and fill your senses with a rush of butter and salt. Vanilla Waffle Rolls are the perfect choice for someone who prefers sweet to salty, and they are a must-have luxury for any tea time. These crisp, flakey rolls melt on your palate, leaving a subtle essence of vanilla in its wake.
Perhaps not as well known as our famous French Macarons, our French Macaroons are de rigueur on French tea tables since the 8th century. These light little coconut cakes are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. And of course, for a fruit flavor without the heaviness of a scone, our Financiers are light and fluffy with raspberry flavors in a delightful little treasure.
While not a traditional dessert item, we do love to offset the sweet finish with a little bit of brine. The Salted Caramel Crisps have some of that buttery salty finish, but why not do something completely different and add a little caviar to the table? Served solitaire with a pearl spoon, it can be placed atop the finger sandwiches, eaten on its own or with crème fraîche and blinis. We love Royal Daurenki® for its complex flavor and unique blend of brine and fruity notes. It's a sublime study in contrasts, with a burst of juicy brine, followed by a nuanced flavor profile of dried fruit and toasted grains on the tongue, with savory butter lingering on the finish. À ravir les papilles!
Let us help you plan your next afternoon tea time gathering. Our caviar concierge is always here to help you select the perfect caviar and Petrossian favorites. Contact us to speak with a caviarologist® at (800) 828-9241 for all of your Petrossian needs.