Lisbon’s Heavenly Afternoon Tea & A Giveaway

Everyone has a favorite meal. Mine is afternoon tea. It has everything I could want in a meal: something savory, something sweet, teeny tiny cakes, and, very importantly, soul-warming tea. So when I heard that the five-star Corinthia Hotel in Lisbon had started serving a new afternoon tea, I put on the closest thing I own to an Alice in Wonderland dress and was the first in line to try it. I loved it so much that I wanted one of my readers to enjoy it too, so I’m giving away an afternoon tea experience for two below.

The Corinthia Hotel is currently serving two types of afternoon tea: the traditional, and the Portuguese. I tried the traditional option to see how it lives up to the (I’m not even ashamed to say it) very many afternoon teas I’ve had in my life.

I was fortunate enough to sit in the hotel’s executive lounge on the 24th floor, benefiting from bird’s eye views of uptown Lisbon’s skyline, a panoramic view of the city’s 18th century aqueduct, the Cristo Rei statue across the river in the distance, and Lisbon’s very own version of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Although there was a wide variety of delicious teas from one of Portugal’s oldest tea houses, Companhia Portugueza do Chá, my heart was already set on their “Lisbon Breakfast”: a special blend made solely for this hotel that you can’t find anywhere else. I was not disappointed! It tasted like a more delicate version of English Breakfast tea, which was a perfect pairing to the food that followed. As an aside, the china on which the food is served is hand-painted by Vista Alegre.

Normally, the sandwiches are my least favorite part tea. But these were quite possibly the best ones I’ve had in an afternoon tea. The bread was neither soggy nor dry (too often it’s either one or the other) and there were equal amounts of fillings in each one (because we all feel cheated when we pick up the sandwich that’s half empty and you can’t really put it back).

The scones (my favorite part of any afternoon tea) were delicious and served with strawberry jam, clotted cream, and – a Portuguese twist – pumpkin jam!

Halfway through my tea, I got the pleasure of meeting Corinthia’s pastry chef, Pedro Dias. We discussed the amount of work that goes into making the pistachio choux pastries (we are talking days to prepare!). The filling was incredibly smooth and creamy, without any of that bitterness you sometimes get with pistachios. The lemon cake complemented the tea perfectly. And the salted caramel tarts were just the right amount of sweet. The chef’s take on a tarte tatin was really interesting because he gave the cream an orange and vanilla flavor. One of the highlights was the side of artisanal raspberry marshmallows and the delicate blackberry fruit pâtés. Even though the servings are generous, you’re going to want more…

To add a little sparkle to your day, for an additional €10 per glass, you’ll get a flute of champagne. And why not? Tea should always be a celebration! If you’re interested in making your afternoon extra special, I recommend starting with a luxury treatment at Corinthia’s The Spa, where you’re certain to feel like a VIP. All that relaxation and pampering will work up an appetite.

So now the giveaway! To enter to win an afternoon tea experience for two at the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, simply follow the instructions below.
On Facebook: Like facebook.com/CorinthiaLisbon and facebook.com/APortugueseAffair. On A Portuguese Affair’s Corinthia Hotel Afternoon Tea post, tag a friend whom you’d love to take out to afternoon tea. Each tag is equal to one entry.
On Instagram: Follow @corinthialis and @aportugueseaffair. On A Portuguese Affair’s Corinthia Hotel Afternoon Tea post, tag a friend whom you’d love to take out to afternoon tea. Each tag is equal to one entry.

Giveaway ends on May 21, 2019 at 5 pm EST. Participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be provided with a voucher for an afternoon tea for two experience at the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon valid for up to 12 months from the date of issue. Not redeemable for cash.