On Monday 9 November, Saicho joined L’Oscar in Holborn, London, to celebrate the launch of its Festive Sparkling Afternoon Tea. The afternoon brought together 22 guests for an exploration of food and sparkling tea pairings.
Welcome to the table
Chef Arturas Kondratjevas opened the afternoon by introducing his festive menu. The savoury selection featured roast turkey with mature Cheddar and cranberry mayonnaise, and Chalk Farm smoked salmon with horseradish cream and keta caviar. The sweet course includes a Yule Log of chocolate sponge and pecan praline, and a Winter Apple Bauble of cinnamon mousse and spiced apple. Freshly baked scones arrive with fig jam, cranberry curd and clotted cream.
Saicho co-founder Natalie Winkworth-Smith then led a sparkling tea masterclass, introducing guests to the origins, craftsmanship and distinctive character of each expression. She explored how the teas' individual flavour profiles complemented the different elements of the festive menu, bringing the art of food and tea pairing to life.
Four expressions
Throughout the afternoon, guests explored all four Saicho expressions, each offering a different perspective on how sparkling tea can complement the flavours and textures of the festive menu.
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Darjeeling: summer-picked black tea from the Gopaldhara Estate, high in the Darjeeling Himalayas, with notes of mandarin, ginger and wood spice.
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Jasmine: green tea from Fuding, Fujian, scented with jasmine blossoms, with notes of apple sherbet, lychee and vanilla.
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Osmanthus: autumn-harvested Tie Guan Yin oolong from Putian, Fujian, layered with osmanthus blossoms, with notes of apricot, cucumber and custard apple.
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Hojicha: roasted green tea from Shizuoka, Japan, with notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnut and chestnut.
An afternoon of pairing
Following the masterclass, guests had the opportunity to explore the pairings for themselves, with Natalie on hand to answer questions and share more about the teas. Each table was provided with a caddy of loose-leaf tea, offering a closer look at the leaves behind each expression. Meanwhile, the Saicho trolley showcased chilled 750ml bottles on ice, alongside gift boxes, artist-painted bottles and tea aromatisers. Each guest also took home a Saicho 200ml gift box.
Thank you
Thank you to L’Oscar and Chef Arturas Kondratjevas for hosting us, and to everyone who joined us for the afternoon.
Book the afternoon tea
L’Oscar’s Festive Sparkling Afternoon Tea is £75 per person and includes a bottle of Saicho Sparkling Tea. A vegan festive menu is also available. Visit L’Oscar at 2–6 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AA, to experience the menu for yourself.
Photography: Sam Milton