The Fairmont's Blooming Tea service soothes stressed-out shoppers

Crowded malls. Pushy shoppers. Long lines for Santa. If gift shopping is stressing you out, it's time for tea. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel is the perfect spot for a respite from the holiday hullabaloo - yet it's festive and beautifully decked out for the season.

Try the new Blooming Tea service in the Terrace Lounge, weekdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (If you want a more traditional setting, take High Tea in The Georgian Room, served daily from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m, $38 per person.) There are no extended pinkies in the Terrace Lounge and the new Blooming Teas put on their own little floral show in a glass teapot. Teas are hand-tied and sewn in small bundles, but when steeped in water they unfold into unusual floral shapes. Choose from green, white and black teas. Flavors range from subtle with a touch of sweetness to more robust flavors.

The tea includes shopping fuel: an impressive tiered presentation of tea sandwiches such as rosemary roasted chicken with balsamic shallot relish on potato bread, Dungeness crab and grapefruit salad on pain de campagne, chocolate brandy crisp, granny smith apple delight, currant scones with Devonshire cream and raspberry preserves, and other tasty delights. Cost of the tea is $38 per person. The best part? You can still shop while having tea! An attractively packaged bamboo box holds a gift of blooming teas and comes with a glass teapot for $50.

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