Starting the New Year with Healthy Botanical Tea at the El Encanto SB

After the holiday festivities and indulgences, it seems we head directly into healthy eating and activities in January. With that noted, the El Encanto – a Belmond Hotel in Santa Barbara – has their signature Botanica Afternoon Tea.

What is intriguing about their afternoon tea service beyond the ritz, is that both the curated teas and menu options are on the healthy side, save the delicious pastries and final course – scones with cream. 

Pastry chef Pornpun Sangpen Luna creates three tiers of exquisitely prepared savory tea sandwiches, seasonal scones, and desserts. For the astrologically informed, the teas are astrobotanical infusions custom blended by Ojai-based ceremonial tea brand Magic Hour, and named for each of the twelve sun signs of the zodiac. There are black, oolong, and white teas infused with herbs and adaptogens, each with its health benefits and caffeine level listed. 

As we start the new year in the air sign of Libra, its “Tea for Beauty and Balance” supports the immune system, boosts collagen, eases PMS, and aids in digestion – indeed an influencer’s soon-to-be favorite. It is a white tea with pistachios, creamy vanilla, rose, and pecans. For the fire signs, try the Sagittarius “Tea of Good Fortune and Abundance”, boosting one’s mood while simultaneously calming, stress reducing, and relaxing the nervous system. It is a blend of oolong tea, citrus, ginger, sweet pomegranate and creamy caramel. For the Earth signs, the Virgo “Tea of Divine Details” supports heart health, is antioxidant rich, and increases clarity. This is a bold black tea with notes of rich chocolate and ripe berries. Water signs can taste Pisces “Queen of Intuition Oolong” tea made from both oolong and green teas, blueberries, florals and vanilla that benefits stress reduction, is anti-inflammatory, speeds metabolism, and aids in focus. Of course, there are eight more teas to taste during the tea service. Each arrives in a silver tea pot, refreshed as requested and with a three-minute mini-hourglass tea timer for steeping time. The tea is served in petite etched glass teacups.

Food preferences like vegan are accommodated. The sandwich breads – beetroot levain, charcoal loaf, Pain de Campagne, and turmeric loaf – combine with such delicious ingredients as herbed chicken, smoked salmon mousse, farm eggs, and the classic cucumber tea sandwich. The desserts are miniature designer pomegranate cheesecake, spiced apple eclair, pecan jasmine tart, orange chocolate mousse, and an apricot thyme macaron. The third entrée is the buttermilk and sultana scones, served warm with strawberry basil jam, clotted cream, and butter with local honey drizzle. Not to worry if one cannot finish, as all the delights are boxed to take home.  

411: https://www.belmond.com/hotels/north-america/usa/ca/santa-barbara/belmond-el-encanto/