Yesterday, I went to the London fair being held at a department store in Osaka. When I got there, it was only 5 after 10 a.m. (the store opened at 10 a.m.) but there was a huge line for Claridge's make-shift tea room. For 1365 yen (about US $12) you could enjoy scones, jam, clotted cream and tea, but the waiting time was over 45 minutes, so I decided to check out what else they had. (Actually, I'm glad I wasn't there at opening time, I probably would have been trampled!)They had Prestat Chocolates but the prices they were charging for a box of bon bons were quite outrageous!
So instead, I decided to get some tea and biscuits (shortbread), which were more English anyway, right? I bought a little tin (40g) of the Organic Lavender Grey (which combined two of my favorite flavors--lavender and earl grey) tea from Tea Palace. And a tin of Partridge's Mr. Sheperds English shortbread. I love the deep purple color of both tins, though the price of the tea cost as much as the tin of shortbread.
Maybe it was my imagination, but it seemed like everything that they had to offer was quite expensive, which I didn't find at the Spain fair....hmmm.Oh well, it was still a great opportunity to be able to try these products. The cookies were light and flaky and the tea's aroma heavenly.
it sounded like a great day~almost like being in London, the price, too!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice and dreary too--overcast, Jann! Just like London...
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Like Jann said, the price difference between the two fairs reflects the price difference of items in the two countries in real life! I love shopping in Spain as the pound goes much further!
ReplyDeleteThanks Su-lin, I'll have to remember that the next time I go to Europe.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Sounds like a delightful experience!
ReplyDeleteAri (Baking and Books)
Thanks Ari, it was!
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Wow Kat, I had no idea spammers were getting even sneakier! Anyway...you gotta do what you gotta do so----
ReplyDeleteI am just loving the fact that you get to "experience" some of these flavors from different countries. I've been keeping an eye out for similiar events but with no luck. Hope there are more foreign visits in store for future posts!
Thanks Rowena! I hope there are more opportunities too! And I hope you get a chance to experience some of these things too.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
How funny!
ReplyDeleteThere's a Japanese promotion going on at BON MARCHE here in Paris.
I visited yesterday and saw only a tiny bit of the exhibit, but there was no Japanese tea ceremony or trampling going on...
The tea part would have been nice :)
That is funny Carol! I'm glad there was no trampling going on.
ReplyDeleteTake care!
Kat