Floral High Tea at Café Botanica Bangkok - Review

in #steempress5 years ago (edited)


Walk with me through the Museum of Floral Culture and let’s stop at Cafe Botanica for a floral high tea treat. Both parts have long roots in modern civilization and tea is an excellent fit for flowers. After the quick Cafe Botanica afternoon tea review, I would like to share some written blossoms with you.


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The Most Floral High Tea in Bangkok?

First thing first, let's get clear what is this floral high tea about. In Bangkok, you will find many afternoon teas, no matter the taste. If you are looking for the most floral high tea in this metropolitan city, you must visit the Museum of Floral Culture, where you can enjoy one of the most pleasant high teas in Bangkok. Hey, what about Author's Lounge High Tea at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok? Yes, that one is even more floral, but here my friends you are sitting in the lavish garden with singing birds around you. No joke!

spider hibiscus
At the cafe Botanica Bangkok, you will be surrounded by flowers. After all, you are inside The Museum of Floral Culture.

Grandma’s cooking is the best, and there must be a grandma in Cafe Botanica’s kitchen. At least the taste of cakes had this message. All the desserts were fresh and comforting.

Flower installation
What an awesome floral chain!

The Ambiance Around The Museum of Floral Culture

OMG, the sight itself is outstanding! First, there is this century-old teakwood house rearranged into The Museum of Floral Culture. This beauty with the lush garden was inspired by the western influences at that time. So to speak colonial-style serves her well, with elegant balcony, big garden and direct approach to the canal. Back in time, the most important houses were situated near the canal.

Holly tree in Thailand
It's all about the tree. Welcome to the botanical cafe.

However, the canal here is not in existence anymore, but at Jim Thompson's house, it still is. No matters how cool this house is, the real gem is at the back of the house - the garden.

Botanical Cafe at the Museum of Floral Culture
If you prefer to see the big tree then this part of Botanical Cafe is where you want to be.

Museum of floral culture Garden
But the best is hiding behind the house. Can you believe this is in the middle of Bangkok?

Drinks at Cafe Botanica

On the Cafe Botanica menu, we got to choose among floral teas with its roots from all around the world. We decided to give a try to Ten -Thousand-Miles-Scented-Tea and Iced-Payom-Flower-Tea with Honey. Both were different than expected and felt more authentic. Besides that, they also have coffees and a variety of Sodas.

wooden army
This wooden army looks kind of scary.

Scones at Floral High Tea

Raisin scones had the firm crust that I didn’t get enough of. Especially when they were combined with their clotted cream and homemade berry jam. The homemade tag comes to about 90% of the food on their menu. Though the clotted cream was somewhat different than I expected, I loved it with all my heart.

Botanical Cafe scones
Yes, scones are a must!

raisin scones with clotted cream and jam
Raisin scones had the firm crust that I didn’t get enough of.

Sweets at the Cafe Botanica

Let me start with a handful of traditional Asian sweets. They are more than suitable to the environment, which is deeply connected to the history. I’m talking about the Collection of Thai, Indian and Chinese traditional sweets. All of which were surprisingly to Ian’s liking. The Luk Chup even refreshed the memory of our time at the Erawan Afternoon Tea.

traditional Asian sweets
A mix of traditional Asian sweets is beautiful and tasty.

traditional Asian dessert mix in Bangkok
Collection of Thai, Indian and Chinese traditional sweets at the Botanical Cafe

Anyway, the cakes were absolutely delicious. Due to the hot day, my first focus was on the mixed-berry Frozen yogurt. Although this could easily serve as an excuse for not combining it with their famous Ongkarak Cake. Never mind that, because the cake by itself tasted heavenly. Just the right balance of fruits, nuts, butter, and sugar.

Botanical Cafe cake
Mouthwatering combination; Ongkarak Cake with mixed-berry Frozen yogurt.

Another cake that we tasted is a modern classic with tropical additions; the cheesecake herself. Mighty good old, heavenly dessert which can go wrong on so many levels. However, not with this one. The cheesecake on its own is slightly sour due to the citrus addition, which made the cheesy cream appear lighter. Add to that perfectly ripe mango with extra mango sauce and you’ll see me licking my fingers. I am not gonna lie to you, but this might be one of the best cheesecakes here in Bangkok.

Cheesecake with mango
Just like 90% of the food on our menu at Cafe Botanica, also this Cheesecake with mango was in-house made.

bamboo cutlery
Even the cutlery is inspired by nature at the Museum of floral culture.

Who is a Man Behind This Floral High Tea?

The father all this is Mr. Sakul Intakul. Sakul Intakul is a floral artist with UNESCO Seal of Excellence for Handicraft Products in his “pocket”. Not only he is keeping the tradition actively alive with The Museum of Floral Culture, and International Institute of Floral Culture in Tokyo but has also created numerous designs that are outstanding. Some of them are made with fresh flowers, while others serve as decorative accessories.

Sakul Intakul
Sakul Intakul is a man of many talents.

His fame is worldwide. After all, he was in charge of the main flower arrangement at the Italian Film Festival not so long ago. I bet the Thai Royal family has his number saved as "Flower Master", and the Royal Palace has many times his creations. Keep in mind, Royal events are demanding task. That is why it takes about two weeks of work and 24 pairs of hands, just to decorate the place.

Floral High Tea
Afternoon tea at the Botanical Cafe doesn't come as a set, but you can make your own combo.

Museum of floral culture
Can you feel the colonial influence?

Thai Floral Culture

Flower offerings in Thailand are a big part of daily life due to the Buddhist religion. Everywhere in Thailand, you can see many different floral designs (Phuang Malai) which have their own purpose. Some serve as a way to express gratitude, while others as offerings. Sadly, nowadays these Phuang Malai are too often replaced by plastic. If you ask me, plastic Phuang Malai loses its meaning.

floral curtain
The Museum of Floral culture has many incredible floral installations.

purple umbrella
The garden behind the Museum of Floral Culture is constantly changing.

Like elsewhere in the world, flowers are present at every religious ceremony and have a place at important life events. Here in Thailand, flowers carry even bigger meaning. Flowers are also connected to the Thai Royal Family, which contributes its fair share to floral art development. Now, you see why it is so important for artist Sakul Intakul to keep alive this tradition.

Small White flower
Remember the floral chain aka Phuang Malai? This flower was used to make it.

Final Thought

We come from a world that is beautiful to its core. Even volcanos after the initial shock give the world something uniquely beautiful. Actually, the circle of life is really not about one single circle. Flowers used in religious ceremonies bring to focus also the passing of time among all the other stuff. That is why we shouldn’t take gifts of nature for granted and easily replace them for a fake!

Entrance to the Museum of floral culture
I bet this is the most photographed spot at the Museum of Floral Culture.

This floral high tea is simple, delicious and accompanied by one of the best locations to have high tea here in Bangkok. Yes, we were missing some savories and you might not find the professional service here. But I guarantee you that, you will enjoy this floral afternoon tea all the way. Everything we had, with tea included was impeccable and the singing of birds is still in my head. Warmly recommended!

yellow orchid
What a beauty!

Cafe Botanica High Tea Review Card

  • 9.5/10
    ATMOSPHERE – 9.5/10
  • 8.8/10
    SERVICE – 8.8/10
  • 9.5/10
    TEA SELECTION – 9.5/10
  • 9.5/10
    PRESENTATION – 9.5/10
  • 9.2/10
    BITES – 9.2/10
  • 9.3/10
    VALUE – 9.3/10
9.3/10



Price and Location

On the menu are individual sweets that on average come at the price of about 6 USD, while tea costs about 4 USD. Here is a link to the Museum of Floral Culture for easier navigation.



Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://wnfdiary.com/floral-high-tea-at-cafe-botanica-bangkok-review/
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Great review as always. Thank you for sharing

Hi wnfdiary,

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I think I fell in love, it's beautiful, no, the word is too small to describe, I think there is no word to say how beautiful it is ... I need to go there!

If I would be living in Bangkok this would be my peaceful hangout place. Birds, book and tea with sweets - heaven in the middle of the crazy metropole 😁

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If I would be living in Bangkok this would be my peaceful hangout place. Birds, book and tea with sweets - heaven in the middle of the crazy metropole 😁. I hope you'll like it there as well!

Posted using Partiko Android

Congratulations! Your high-quality travel content was selected by @travelfeed curator @elsaenroute and earned you a partial upvote. We love your hard work and hope to encourage you to continue to publish strong travel-related content.
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Hi wnfdiary,

This post has been upvoted by the Curie community curation project and associated vote trail as exceptional content (human curated and reviewed). Have a great day :)

Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.

Hi wnfdiary,

This post has been upvoted by the Curie community curation project and associated vote trail as exceptional content (human curated and reviewed). Have a great day :)

Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.

eh dear @wnfdiary, your post is beautiful! I must confess that I do not love tea, but I absolutely love everything you have described with your words and photographs. those desserts must be delicious and the atmosphere in that place seems almost magical! but is this afternoon tea tradition typically tourist or is it a tradition still lived by the local people? congratulations on your curie vote and thanks for sharing :-))

Through the colonization the English brought their habits with them and now they are becoming more and more popular. It is a great way for friends get together or different kinds of celebrations for lokals. But as a tourist I love afternoon tea because it comes with many different bites and I can taste many local dishes I otherwise wouldn't.

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