Afternoon delight

Sipping a fragrant Darjeeling with sweet pastries is a tradition with a rich history. Mike Peters joins some Hong Kong ladies for tea.

Afternoon teas are popping up at five-star hotels all over China, offering classic sips with elegant repasts. For women with a sweet tooth and a social bent, it's a pleasant way to catch up with friends and sometimes even have an informal business chat. (Men have their own rituals, generally over single malt in a well-oaked bar.)

In recent months, The Langham hotel in Hong Kong has laid claim to a particular level of authenticity. Tradition has it that the first English afternoon tea was served at the Langham in London almost 150 years ago. The Hong Kong hotel re-opened its elegant Palm Court lounge in the lobby last fall after a glamorous gold-and-white facelift, and the hotel's recently arrived executive pastry chef, Reinhard Lackner, has created a special menu of finger sandwiches and delicate cakes, scones and other desserts to bring the tradition new energy.