When wine and cheese gets dull, head to Cape Town's Table Bay Hotel for a new twist on High Tea, pairing together classic tea favorites of tea and pastries in a fresh take on an old tradition.

Pastry Chef Anita Van Tonder and Nigiro Tea Merchants have teamed to pair the perfect pastry with a complimentary tea flavor for a new guest experience.

"I love experimenting with new flavors and ideas to express my creativity when creating novel desserts.  The concept started when we hosted several international groups at The Table Bay Hotel.  In order to differentiate ourselves we linked the Nigiro loose teas with dessert and pastry pairings,” says Chef Van Tonder. “Tea naturally complements food by rounding off its flavors.” 

Pairing creations include:cherry and dark chocolate tart and pistachio brittle paired with Sakura, a cherry flavored tea; caramel parfait served with white chocolate mousse and peanut caramel paired with African Sun, a cardamom tea; and Tiramisu with ginger and cocoa served with espresso sauce and paired with the classic Earl Grey.

The pairing menu is comprised of four to six Nigiro teas, for which Chef Van Tonder has created new pastries to go with. For an additional luxury twist on the experience, guests can schedule private tea pairing sessions with tea expert Mingwei Tsai from Nigiro. 

Information about The Table Bay Hotel can be found at www.suninternational.comand reservations for the new tea experience can be made via email at sainfo@sun-int.net or by calling 1 (800) 727-9330.