Thanks to the iron tea pot we had hot tea for a while.
Evergreen Sofitel Angkor Hotel is a lush getaway from the dusty streets of Siem Reap. Not only that, this place is a charming window into colonial times, where one can enjoy the alfresco tea time or the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra high tea set in the chilled spot. We settled at the Explorer’s Tale bar for their daily tea set, so we can share our experience of Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra high tea with you.
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Is it possible that the Sofitel Siem Reap Bar started with the Indiana Jones? The color scheme of the Explorer’s Tales Bar is undeniably close to it, with a chocolate brown base and creamy top. Even if you aren’t an Indiana Jones fan, you’ll love the comfortable leather chairs and the luscious green view. On the other hand, since you love traveling, we are sure you’ll love the combination of the explorer’s energy and colonial comforts.
Tea by the Harney & Sons brand is part of the afternoon tea. You can choose among a few flavors and smell each at the bar. We went for Ti Quan Yin Oolong tea from Southern Fujian Province, the tea culture’s cradle. It was a wonderful companion to the afternoon tea bites with a buttery almond scent and honey-like finish.
Besides tea, we decided to have a cup of Cambodian Mondulkiri coffee, which was absolutely delightful. The Sofitel Angkor’s coffee selection is well worth stopping by even if you skip the afternoon tea set.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t try something else, like a cocktail or a glass of wine as a starter and a cigar puff for the finish. On the other hand, wine selection at the Sofitel Siem Reap is extensive, always-on display in the wine room.
At Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra high tea, one can chose between Cambodian style high tea or more traditional, western style. However, we tried out both versions, just to be sure.
Aromatic dip refreshed every bite of the curry seasoned vegetable samosa. We loved the combination of sweet Thai basil and lime, together with moist samosa filling made of potato and hydrated peanuts.
Crispy fried spring-roll tasted especially good with sweet and sour dressing. Another delicious gravy came on the side of the poached prawns. Here again, we found Thai sweet basil and soy sauce, which was the perfect match. This bite would be perfect if the prawns wouldn’t be over-cooked.
The last hot bite of our Asian afternoon tea at Sofitel Siem Reap was the beef dumpling, seasoned with kaffir lime leaf and pepper. Good skewer, filled with all the flavor and spiced just right to heat up.
Gorgeous-looking chicken and banana blossom salad tasted fresh with intense sweet and sour notes. Crunchy shallots, carrots, and banana blossom stood firm on the side of the tender chicken meat.
Vegetable spring roll filled with fresh sprouts, lettuce, and julienned carrot tasted plain but fresh. Luckily we had some leftover gravy from the previous bites and used the opportunity to upgrade this roll.
Coconut jelly was the gentlest tasting sweet and lovely transition to the sweet finish. Right after it, we had a taste of the pumpkin custard, which is of the acquired taste. There was nothing wrong with it; we just like sweet desserts. Taste-wise, you get what you see, pumpkin filled with thick, slightly sweet custard. When it comes to the traditional Cambodian waffles (Num Poum), we liked the coconut flavour and light texture. Even though plain waffles were very appetizing, we were happy for the caramelized pineapple topping.
We did like the stuffed jackfruit, and it was quite a mouthful with the red sticky rice in the middle. Here we must admit that it was better than we expected and something we could snack on for the whole day. Red rice affected the jackfruit in a more earthy manner, making it almost addictive. We can’t get enough fresh fruit, and a skewer of fresh mango, grape and melon was a solid finish.
The three-tier sandwich stand’s empty top tray makes a poor first impression. Be as it may, we weren’t up for a quick judgment and focused on the tasting.
The undisputable star of the chicken and pesto sandwich was the lean meat. Sadly, the green pesto was there just for the color, and even that is an understatement. Needless to say, that with it, the moisture went down the drain.
A lovely twist on the bread proved to be the profiterole pastry, filled with egg and salmon. Here again, we missed some gravy to aid some moisture and enrich the flavor.
The cucumber and cream cheese sandwich was a little moister and the cold trio’s tastiest. Slightly sweetened cream went well with the scones, but it didn’t win us over.
Plain scone had a nice crust but somehow tasted of chlorine and was difficult to swallow due to the pulpy texture. Once we topped it with the strawberry jam and forest fruit jelly, it tasted decent. However, don’t expect the artisanal toppings, but the average store-bought jam.
The best part of the Western afternoon tea menu at the Sofitel Angkor was the sweets. We liked the combination of fresh strawberries with the brittle financier. Delicious and straightforward was also the spongy madeleine, especially after we dipped it in the whipped cream. Our favorite has to be the vanilla tart with fresh mango on top where every element was top-notch: well ripe mango, crusty shortcake, and luscious cream.
Coconut mousse turned out to be a hazard; with spoiled strawberry sauce, we said no to the mousse. After all, it can be made with raw eggs and we want to avoid any tummy issues. Our last bite was the flan, a decent bite with a pleasant vanilla scent.
To be honest, Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra high tea is not that great as we were expecting. As a downside, most of the sweet bites can be found at the hotel breakfast. Western savory didn’t make any impressions and the finish with moldy cream didn’t help either. However, the Cambodian high tea set was a bit better but still far behind Park Hyatt Siem Reap Afternoon Tea and Raffles Siem Reap Afternoon Tea.
If you are wondering how does this charming hotel looks like, check our Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Review. I bet you will be delighted as we were.
Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra high tea set for one person will cost you about 15 USD and is served between 2 pm and 5 pm. Here is a link to the location in case you would like to give it a go.
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