Passiontree Velvet

Passiontree Velvet is an elegant little oasis that is part British tea room, French patisserie and Belgian Chocolatier in the upper gallery of Carindale Shoppingtown’s refurbished wing.

It also happens to be a top spot for a leisurely and indulgent high tea - the perfect bookend to a morning or afternoon shopping expedition. Three well-priced high teas are on offer - The Full Duchess High Tea, Chocolatier’s High Tea and the special Teddy Bear’s Picnic High Tea for children.

Of these The Full Duchess is the classic, featuring ribbon sandwiches (cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg salad, and champagne ham), home baked English scones with jam and cream and high tea fancies.

The Chocolatier features the same ribbon sandwiches, but the rest is an indulgent chocolate lover’s dream – chocolate bon bons, truffles and Belgian chocolates, while the Teddy Bear’s is an ideal novelty lunch for children. For Just $9.95, children get their own two tiered stand of ham sandwiches, diamante biscuits, macaron and juice of babycino.

The highlight of the high teas are the luxe sweet treats that are Passiontree’s signature, with patisserie items all made by a dedicated pastry chef who trained in Paris and divine chocolates from the in-house dedicated chocolatier.

Macarons star here with one of the most extensive ranges you’ll find – a smorgasbord of flavours including salted caramel, caramel orange, passionfruit, blueberry, lemon, blood orange, apricot, green tea, blueberry and blackberry, along with the more exotic: mocha, earl grey, ginger, cookies’n’cream and coconut vanilla.

From the cake and patisserie selection come favourites like Earl Grey chocolate roll cake and tiramisu and for a variation on the high teas customers can choose from dainty themed tasting plates of sweet morsels comprising 4 choices: The Belgravia, The Parisian or Belgian Bites.

Otherwise drop in for a dessert such as banana caramel or toffee nut waffle, strawberry dipping pot or chocolate fondue or light meal such as Croque Monsieur, English crumpets or scones, Teddy Bear toast (for kids) and the Luncheon – an old-fashioned selection of ribbon sandwiches with light salad on the side.

Coffee at Passiontree is well-brewed Mocopan but it is the loose leaf teas here that are a rare treat – from London’s Dorchester Hotel supplier Hanley & Sons come signature Dorchester Breakfast, Hot Cinnamon, Earl Grey Supreme, Darjeeling and Rose-Scented varieties. In addition there’s jasmine and gunpowder green teas or herbal – yellow and blue and peppermint.

There’s also Couverture hot chocolate to indulge in and a range of iced latte, mocha, chocolate, coffee and tea.

Need to know: This is a great gathering place for mums (with plenty of rooms for prams) seeking something more refined than the food hall, a gathering of girlfriends or to take an aunt or grandma for a treat.

Nice to know: Gift boxes of macarons, chocolates and patisserie are available to take away.

*At the time of writing in July 2014 the Full Duchess was $34.95, the Chocolate High Tea $32.95 and The Teddy Bear’s Picnic $9.95.

Passiontree Velvet is a valued sponsor of Must Do Brisbane.