WHILE the custom of drinking tea dated back to millenniums ago in China, the concept of afternoon tea was born in the mid 19th century in Britain.

With the evening meal regularly served around 8 p.m., upper-class ladies would feel hungry around 4 p.m., and gather for some tea, bread and cakes. Ultimately, this pause for tea became a fashionable social event. These ladies would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock.

In the vein of that tradition, the St. Regis Shenzhen is offering a berry-themed afternoon tea, with its culinary team preparing delicate berry-based cakes and other desserts with seasonal fruit. Guests can try their savory caviar and plum jelly, crispy strawberry pancakes with Alaska crab meat, dried strawberries with truffle Ricotta cheese and raspberry chocolate brownies.

Sitting by the French window on the 96th floor of their lounge overlooking the cityscape and enjoying the warm sunshine, guests will have a good time sharing with their best friends the Instagrammable desserts that are definitely worthy of a try.

The hotel occupies the 75th to the 100th floors of the Kingkey100 Building in downtown Luohu District.(Debra Li)