Do you love a fancy Afternoon Tea? If you do, then you´re just like me. And I´m always in the hunt of the most delicious and special High Teas around the world. I´ve chosen 3 of my favorite ones in Chiang Mai Thailand. The first of them, a review of the 137 Pillars House can be found here. This post is dedicated to our paradise-like day at the legendary Four Seasons Chiang Mai luxury resort with a memorable chocolate themed Afternoon Tea as its highlight!
Why Four Seasons Chiang Mai
If you want to enjoy the famous Thai hospitality in a truly luxurious and tropical way, then I suggest you Four Seasons Luxury resort Chiang Mai. It´s situated 30 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai and nestled among emerald rice fields – a sanctuary of well-being, perfect for unwinding, recharging and enjoying individually-tailored experiences.
Imagine driving through an impressive gate into a thick jungle and stepping out to a traditionally designed zen open air lobby. You sit down on one of the crafted Thai sofas when you´re greeted by a young receptionist who´s handing you a glass of ice cold lemongrass tea. You take a look around and step forward on a terrace overlooking the tropical life down in the valley of Four Seasons Chiang Mai – the rice fields in the middle (a local sticky rice variety is grown there and the harvest is given away as charity), two majestic pools overlooking the small lake next to the rice terraces, there´s a yoga barn on the lake (I can imagine myself doing my yoga stretches there in the morning when the heat hasn´t arrived yet looking at the mystical fog rising from the lake), behind the lake there are traditional huts (I decide to take a look at them later) and water buffalos, around all this are the rooms and villas of the lucky ones enjoying a few days of living in this dream! Because it is a dream, isn´t it? Even a bit surreal, you might have to pinch yourself to make sure it´s real!
We start making a tour at the resort. There´s an impressive gym, a pilates room, Thai boxing amenities. There´s a kids club, cooking classes, bikes to ride around, workshops to get to know the culture… It´d never be boring at a place like that. We manage to take the best place of the Ratree pool bar – a huge lounge a bit higher overlooking the pool and the lake. It happens to be my birthday and it sure feels like one! As soon as we arrive 2 waiters come to help us cover the lounger with beach towels. We try the signature cocktails – my pineapple daiquiri tastes like chic and tropical combined!
After the first dip in the refreshing pool we explore the possibilities of the Chaan Baan – the traditional huts introducing the local heritage. You can discover the tools and techniques used in rice cultivation, learn to plant rice shoots yourself, spin the potter’s wheel or create art on fabric with natural indigo dyes, or you could walk through the herb and vegetable garden and help the local water buffalos with their ritualistic bath. My daughter takes part of the kids indigo-dye workshop while we cook some small Thai foods on fire (sticky rice and bananas cooked in banana leaf and a simple Thai omelets cooked in steam).
Some of the resort highlights:
- Huge rooms (from 70m2 up to 855m2) each with its own outdoor space overlooking the lush jungle
- Views over the rice paddies and the majestic Doi Suthep mountain
- Wellbeing – fancy a morning yoga on the terrace of the over-water yoga barn? Or a private pilates session? Some traditional Thai boxing? A stroll on bikes in the countryside? You name it!
- Like to spend your time learning something new? Get to know the local culture at the ceramics workshop or cooking class, learn how to color fabric with natural indigo dyes.
- Have kids with you? No problem – there’s a kids club plus cool activities for them to take part in – like rice planting or tie dye workshop
- Love to enjoy life – spend your lazy afternoons lounging at the poolside sipping cocktails and taking a refreshing dip in the pools
The unforgettable Afternoon Tea
And then it is time for one of the most memorable Afternoon Teas I´ve ever had. Surrounded by green rice fields, chocolate themed, starts with a show, set in a tropical luxury resort in the middle of jungle! The fact that it´s chocolate themed is a great start in itself – a decadent afternoon tea menu by Pastry Chef Yanisa Wiagnon, featuring organic chocolate from Thailand along with premium chocolate from Switzerland and France. But when the peanut ice cream is put to the table and the waitress pours liquid nitrogen (a technique in molecular gastronomy) on it covering the whole table by the mysterious steam, it´s just magical!
Curious what we had?
read below the list of our delicious treats:
- White chocolate peach verrines (White Chocolate Peach Cream, Peach Jelly, Crunchy Pearls, Peach Macaron)
- Salted caramel chocolate, banana choux (Valrhona Caramelia, Salted Caramel, Banana Choux, Mango Coulis)
- Strawberry pistachio cake (Valrhona Strawberry Inspiration Chocolate, Strawberry-Lemon Jelly, Pistachio Sponge)
- Jivara chocolate matcha mandarin layers (Jivara Milk Chocolate, Mandarin Orange Jelly, Matcha Layers cake)
- Dark chocolate crunchy cake (Valrhona Manjari 64%, Passion Fruit Cream, Chocolate Biscuits, Crunchy Glaze)
- Cocoa bagels with smoked salmon (Cream Cheese, Avocado, Cucumber Pickles, Dill)
- Ham and cheese cocoa croffle (French Butter Cocoa Croissant, Ham, Mozzarella Cheese)
- Chocolate walnut scone (Clotted Cream, Strawberry Jam)
- Chocolate peanut butter ice cream
Essential information
Price of the Afternoon Tea 1770 THB/2 person set (52 USD)
Book 24h in advance here
Would you like to enjoy a day at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai?
Traveler Juc 