Morning tea at the Orangerie at La Lude, Franschhoek

 13 June 2025

 

Morning Tea at

The Orangerie at LA LUDE

Bowling Green Avenue, Lambrechts Riad, Franschhoek 

 

Our Franschhoek mini break was much needed R & R for Von-Mari as well as part of the celebrations of our 17^th wedding anniversary, on 14 June, and the festivities included morning tea at the Orangerie restaurant at La Lude; Von-Mari had heard  that it’s good.

 

The tea costs R590,00 a person, payable when you book,  and can be taken in the morning or the afternoon. In our case it was at 11h00 and served as brunch.

The last time we were here, we had lunch on the same  shady terrace where the tea is served. The setting gives one a sense of enormous well-being, especially on a lovely, warm week day when we were the only guests.

 

A glass of bubbly comes with the tea and, because of the celebration, we were favoured with another glass each.

The comestibles are served in two tranches: first the plated savouries and scones and then the sweet treats on the standard tier.

 

The tea selection is somewhat exotic and, other than English breakfast tea, seems to be intended for milk-less consumption, even the French Earl Grey tea. Von-Mari’s choice (possibly the Emperor Sencha) didn’t blow her away. When we drink tea, it’s proper Earl Grey with milk and she’s not into herbal or black tea. I opted for the Moroccan mint tea, not too far from Turkish çay but with a lovely, subtly fragrant mint essence.

 

The savouries comprised decrusted finger sandwiches

, rare roast beef and whipped Feta baguettes

 and mini spinach and Gruyere frittatas.

Yummy.  As always, we would’ve loved more of the savouries. 

 

The scones were substantial, well-baked and were served with copious amounts of cream (not clotted) and jam. I do love a good scone and would also easily have had more.

The sweet things were mini carrot cake loaves, blueberry macarons, salted caramel profiteroles, triple chocolate lamingtons and lemonade Madeleines.

The profiteroles and carrot cake were by far the best of the bunch. The macarons were crunchy and not the traditional chewy texture, the Madeleines weren’t as delicate as I’ve grown accustomed to and, for me, messing with a traditional lamington is an abomination. These, as chocolate cake, were perfectly good but, gosh darn it, if you say lamington, give me lamington. 

 

We had a good time, the setting is absolutely glorious on a beautiful day, the service was cheerful and efficient, and, nitpicking aside, the  range of eats was good even if one’s preference is for more savoury and fewer sweet things.

 

It’s not the best high tea type thing ever, but you’d go far to beat the surrounds and, really, is high tea ever really worth the price?  It’s an occasion and that’s what one pays for, I suppose, and this occasion was wonderful.