Driven by the era of their colonial possessions, the Dutch, even to this day, commonly include curry tiffin and recipes savory and sweet at teatime that reflect the glory days of the old empire. Make no mistake—the Dutch are wonderful bakers, so expect a tea menu that resembles no other. And they are the absolute masters when it comes to pancakes. Hotel Des Indes changes its menu monthly, so if you have fussy preferences, call ahead or write to inquire, especially during this era of COVID-19–prompted restrictions.
Expect to be seated under sparkling chandeliers at a pretty table dressed with fine white linens and floral centerpieces often composed of sorbet-colored roses and fragrant pink and yellow sweet peas, and then four high tea courses will follow. There is also a royal high tea category that includes a flute of Champagne.
The menu is quite different to that of a traditional English tea and might include such items as grilled gamba (large prawns), red beetroot, wasabi cream with Peking duck crumble, Stilton cheese, apple chutney, bread chips, aged cheese puffs, and tapenade.
And if that were not enough, the next savory presentation showcases a wonderful sandwich selection, which might feature smoked salmon with cucumber dill spread and another unusually tasty concoction of fennel salami layered with bell pepper spread and a side of white cabbage root and raisin salad.
The third course often includes the unexpected, such as a rich lentil soup infused with aromatic truffles and thinly sliced loin of veal garnished with celeriac cream and mushrooms and a tender quiche of Cheddar cheese and tomatoes.
Finally, saving the best for last, the étagère of sweet treats is quite a sight. There are petite pastries with passionfruit cassis mousse and chocolate garnish. Augmenting that are more exotic fare for the sweetest devotees among us, such as tartlets filled with calamansi (teeny tiny vivid green and orange Indonesian citrus) combined with vibrant raspberries among mixed macarons.
The last morsels to arrive are often treats like robust ginger fruitcake and scrumptious scones with homemade jam and mascarpone cheese.
Hotel Des Indes offers three signature tea options, including classic black, green, and white. Since 1976, these have been individually blended from a mélange accessed from China, Sri Lanka, India, and Japan by the Dutch team Teaculture. The silver service arrives on a separate tray with a personal timer for the perfect brew.
Servings are substantial at Des Indes, so congratulations if you are able to walk out of the tea lounge immediately after consuming this delicious repast. Instead, you might find yourself wanting to linger over the last cup of tea and any remaining Dutch treats as you savor them in the marvelous, palatial setting of Hotel Des Indes.
Hotel Des Indes is located at Lange Voorhout 54-56, 2514 EG, Den Haag, Netherlands. For more information, go to
desindes.com , or contact the hotel by telephone at +31 70 3612345 or by email at
reception@desindes.com. Afternoon tea is by reservation at least 48 hours in advance.
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