Bake with Benoit Blin - An Afternoon Tea Between Worlds: Patisserie, Saicho Sparkling Tea, and Painting at The Cadogan Lounge London

Some experiences don’t just pass the time, they transport you. They carry you out of your everyday life, invite you into new flavours, stories, and sensations, and then gently return you, leaving you changed in ways you hadn’t expected. Recently, I found myself in just such an experience: an afternoon at The Cadogan Lounge in London with Saicho Sparkling Teas and the legendary patisserie chef, Benoit Blin.

On paper, it looked simple enough: afternoon tea and a painting workshop. But the reality was something else entirely. From the train ride into London to the final step back into the hustle of city life, it felt like a journey between worlds.

When you choose an experience, it’s often for many reasons: the promise of pleasure, the chance to learn, the draw to meet someone you admire, or the allure of a place you have always wanted to see. Yet these choices also ask something from us, our time, our money, and, perhaps as importantly, our focus. Particularly, if you’re like me, focus can feel in short supply. But this afternoon reminded me that when you do give yourself over fully, the return is often far greater than expected.

This event seemed like a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours—sipping tea, nibbling cakes, and catching up with a friend. But right from the start, it surprised us.

We set off by train, countryside scenes gliding past the window before London began to gather around us. It was a warm day, and as we were dressed in long floaty dresses we decided not to battle the packed summer Tube but instead to treat ourselves to a black cab. Do you ever feel like a child again in a London taxi? That’s exactly what happened to us—pointing out landmarks, delighting in the sunshine, recalling stories as places jogged our memories. “There’s the Palace,” one of us would say, “Look, The Dorchester! Remember when…” “Marble Arch looks wonderful today.” By the time the doorman at The Cadogan opened our door, we felt we had already shared a little journey of our own.

We had chosen to arrive early, to avoid rushing, and so stepped calmly into the hotel foyer. Light-filled and modern, yet respectful of its history, the space gave us an immediate sense of calm. A sweet trolley, overflowing and tempting, added a playful, almost mischievous note, as if reminding us not to take ourselves or life too seriously.

Once we had followed the natural instinct of locating the washrooms, we settled on the terrace for a quiet moment and a coffee before the event began. It was a small ritual, but it allowed us to feel fully present before we were invited into the Cadogan Lounge itself.

The Cadogan Lounge was everything you hope a special place will be. White-clothed tables, intimate banquette seating, regal Porters Chairs. At its heart, a paper floral installation with bright birds of paradise perched among the colours, a whimsical splash of artistry. At the far end, the bar stretched elegantly across the room: wood-panelled, leather-padded, and side panels decorated with delicate cherry blossom. Upon it, Saicho’s sparkling teas caught the light, alongside Benoit’s book Bake and a glass cake stand of perfect lemon and yuzu barquettes, a little preview of the delights ahead. 

We sank into the Porters Chairs, feeling cocooned, almost transported to another world. Our welcome drink was the Darjeeling Saicho Sparkling Tea, its flavours of ginger, mandarin, and spice unfolding like champagne but without the heaviness. Closing my eyes, it was easy to forget I was in London at all.

As we sipped, we learned the story behind Saicho: how founders Charlie and Natalie, inspired by tea culture in Hong Kong, sought to create sparkling teas that could pair with food in the way fine wines do. Each tea was single-origin, carefully chosen for terroir and altitude, then cold brewed slowly for 24 hours. There was also the deeper story of Saicho, the Buddhist monk who brought tea from China to Japan to aid meditation, seeds that would grow into a central part of Japanese culture.

Then Benoit introduced his carefully crafted pairings. The Hojicha Sparkling Tea, smoky and nutty, was matched with savoury bites that unfolded like a journey in themselves: salmon gravlax on croissant with quail egg, brioche with trout roe, an egg mayonnaise sandwich rich with truffle, and a crisp seaweed cracker with cucumber and wasabi. Each mouthful shifted the tea’s flavour, creating new notes and new sensations.

For the sweet course, we returned to the comfort of a warm fruit scone with clotted cream and jam, followed by the exquisite Raspberry Rose and Lychee Religieuse, a light, floral craquelin covered choux bun. This was paired with Jasmine Saicho Sparkling Tea from Fujian, China. Lychee, apple, vanilla, tasting notes, the flavours were delicate, yet unforgettable.

And the absence of alcohol? Far from being a compromise, it heightened the experience. We savoured each sip and bite with clarity, no haze, no heaviness. Just a sense of being fully present.

By now, happily content, we might have expected the afternoon to gently wind down. Instead, we were each presented with a cream wallet tied with a bow, containing paintbrushes, paints, and a little Saicho bottle waiting for our designs. Artist Joanna Dybowska, who paints Saicho’s full-size bottles with beautiful botanical designs, gave us a gentle introduction before letting us try our hand.

It wasn’t as easy as it looked, paint too light and it vanished, too heavy and it lost its delicacy, but that was the joy of it. We compared notes with fellow guests, shared laughs over smudges and triumphs, and soon became engrossed in creating our own miniature masterpieces.

Benoit, meanwhile, moved through the room with warmth and ease. He spoke openly about his career at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, his role judging Bake Off: The Professionals, and his love of pastry. He signed copies of his book with genuine care, chatting with each of us in turn.

By the end, we had not just eaten and drunk but created, something tangible to take home, along with a lemon and yuzu cake tucked into our bags.

As we stepped back into the black cab, painted bottles in hand, the transformation hit me. Inside, we had been immersed in distant lands—India, Japan, China—through flavours, stories, ambiance and creativity. Outside, the bustle of London swept around us again and yet we carried something with us: a kind of joyful hangover, not of alcohol but of inspiration, colour, and connection. The kind that lingers long after you have returned home, and the kind you hope never quite wears off.

Have you ever stepped into an experience that transported you—leaving you lighter, more inspired, or seeing the everyday a little differently? I would love to hear about it. You can email me at info@eight8.co.uk because sometimes, it’s in these small escapes that we rediscover real joy.

If you are visiting London, you may also want to experience Benoit Blin’s afternoon tea at The Cadogan Lounge and transport yourself to distant lands with Saicho Sparkling Tea.

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