Diner’s Diary | Swarovski and Cordis Hong Kong team up for sparkling, decadent afternoon tea at Alibi

Many places in Hong Kong serve themed afternoon teas, but none is as sparkling as the one at Cordis Hong Kong. The hotel’s casual dining spot Alibi has collaborated with Swarovski to present a “Crystal Kiss” afternoon tea, available until the end of March.

Guests get either a signature mocktail called Roswarovski – the non-alcoholic drink has a rose flavour and deep red colour – or Perrier-Jouët champagne served in a champagne flute whose stem is filled with the Austrian brand’s crystals.

As for the afternoon tea, culinary director Paul McLoughlin has taken inspiration from the pretty crystals for a menu that includes a very decadent crab mayonnaise puff topped with caviar, and lobster cromesquis, a kind of croquette that needs to be popped into the mouth with one bite (if sliced in half, the delicious lobster bisque inside spills out onto your plate).

Sea urchin lovers will savour the uni chawanmushi, a steamed savoury egg custard mixed with Alsaskan king crab meat, while the citrus-cured salmon with Hokkaido scallop ceviche whets the appetite.

There are several sweets on the three-tiered tea plate, including panna cotta with pomegranate, a luscious lavender and Kyoho grape jelly, osmanthus jelly and sakura jelly. Delicious scones with hibiscus jam aren’t too sweet, while the Himalayan pink salt topping on a chocolate praline curbs the sweetness and adds a new flavour dimension.