Year of the Tiger afternoon tea coming to Bun House

Chinatown's Bun House will launch 'The Tiger Who Came for Tea and Buns' menu to celebrate Chinese New Year this February. 

Inspired by the Year of the Tiger, the Cantonese-style steamed bun specialist is offering a selection of themed buns alongside smaller, sweet and savoury snacks, along with traditional Chinese teas. 

Bun House's Cantonese founder, Z HE, will merge Chinese Culture with the classic British afternoon tea concept. Guests will be able to choose from bao buns – including a savoury tiger bun, complete with its own tail, as well as a chestnut and white chocolate bun, accompanied by mini calligraphy brush and condensed milk ink that allows diners to decorate their own buns as they go. The tea also comes with a sesame mille feuille with sheets of crisp sesame pastry, layered with clotted cream and spiced plum jam – the Bun House interpretation of the cream tea. 

More substantial offerings will also be available, such as the fried milk ribs – a sticky mound of sweet spare ribs with a secret sauce and sprinkled with crispy garlic; or plates of crispy tempura oyster mushrooms, served in a sweet and tangy homemade peking sauce. The menu will also feature confit duck croquettes with fiery kewpie mustard; and steamed tofu with pickled bamboo shoots and bowls of smoked eel or mushroom egg drop soups.

A number of teas will be available to complement the dishes, served in traditional Cantonese canteen-style pots. Guests can choose between the delicate floral notes of Jasmine or a fruity and fragrant oolong; a traditional pu’er tea will also be available, a unique type of fermented tea made from the leaves of China’s ancient Dayeh trees, with mature leaves that can be up to 1,000 years old.

"Chinese New Year is a time where family and friends come together to celebrate, feast and look forward to the prosperous times that the year will bring," says Z He. "We're excited to celebrate the Year of the Tiger and share our Chinese New Year traditions with Londoners, marrying the British tradition of afternoon tea with Chinese cuisine. We hope that the tiger buns bring customers confidence, courage and some adventure for the year ahead."

You may also be interested in…