It’s a special occasion – my cousin’s 60th birthday and we are staying at a beautiful three bedroom villa with an infinity pool situated in the tropical island of Koh Samui, Thailand. Our sun-soaked days are filled with laughter and endless chatter followed by balmy evenings feasting on Thai cuisine. Nothing, it would seem, could eclipse our time together – that was until I discovered we’re able to visit Kamalaya Wellness Retreat for their newly introduced High Tea on a One Day Pass.
“How can you possibly have a healthy High Tea,” proffers my cousin, dreaming of fluffy white scones made with lemonade and piled high with clotted cream and strawberry jam followed by perfectly cut cucumber sandwiches and Ceylon Tea poured into fine porcelain tea cups.
Everything at Kamalaya is healthy, I assure her, and so too will be the High Tea at Kamalaya. I say this with certainty knowing how much pride co-founder Karina Stewart, a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, takes in ensuring all the food served at Kamalaya is good for you.
But it’s not just the High Tea we are interested in, it’s an entire day of relaxation and indulgence at one of the world’s top health and wellness retreats.
Showing my cousin around Kamalaya, where I have been visiting now for more than 12 years, is exciting because I’m seeing it through her eyes as a first time visitor. “Gosh, this rosemary bread is divine and I love the Turmeric shots, imagine how long they would take to make,” she says as we demolish our breakfast. “Wow, both pools have magical views of the sea….and I love the steam room.”
Then comes the hour long massage – Kamalaya’s signature Vital Essence Oil massage, where we are transported into another world of heavenliness. Feeling quite floaty after enjoying the soothing strokes of our therapists’ hands, we sit back and drink a lemongrass tea as the warm breeze passes over us.
Keen to slow time down, we do everything in a leisurely manner; whether it’s taking in the spectacular ocean views stretching along the Andaman Sea or soaking up the tranquil setting of this sanctuary so sympathetically built around giant granite boulders on a sloping hill. But like all holidays, our mind is also focused on our next meal.
And a visit to Kamalaya would not be the same without sharing my favourite dish – the Mung Bean Risotto, which I regularly make at home now and you can too with the recipe here. This dish is so popular that it’s been on the Amrita Cafe ever since I’ve been visiting.
Soon, our day edge’s towards our long awaited High Tea. Previously, I’ve experience the art of High Mountain Oolong Tea preparation from Kamalaya’s San Bao. The teas are both served in the tastefully decorated Alchemy Tea Lounge with its comfortable sofas, but each is an entirely different experience.
The High Tea was recently introduced, in part, to keep changing the experience of what Kamalaya offers which is important given that 60 per cent of guests are return visitors.
Served from 2-5pm each day, you can choose from two menus including a Detox High Tea (anti-inflammatory) option. It is also available for guests in their rooms or villas, where you can savor the experience in privacy and comfort.
As we looked forward to the High Tea, I started reflecting on the how much I’ve always enjoyed the ritual of sitting down with friends and family for a special afternoon tea.
High Tea Is Rich In Tradition
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and for good reason. Not only does it taste delicious, but it also has many health benefits, such as boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, and enhancing mood. Tea contains antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids that can protect the body from free radicals and chronic diseases. Tea can also help with weight management, digestion, and hydration.
It is also a ritual that allows you to relax and brings joy to our busy lives. While drinking tea began in about 618 AD in China, afternoon tea is an English tradition. In the 1840s, the seventh Duchess of Bedford reportedly felt hungry between lunch and dinner and asked for a pot of tea and some snacks to be served in her room. Soon, she invited her friends to join her, and the practice became fashionable among the upper class.
High Tea Kamalaya Style
High Tea Kamalaya style comes with a wide range of beverages and generous servings of savoury and sweet food, crafted to nourish your senses guilt-free.
There is a huge variety of teas, from herbal infusions to organic green and black teas. The Detox High Tea option is designed to reduce inflammation and cleanse your system, with ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, lemon, and honey.
The Classic High Tea option is a more traditional fare, with sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pastries, but made with wholesome and natural ingredients, such as whole wheat bread, coconut cream, and fresh fruits.
We choose the Classic High Tea, the one with lobster and chocolate mousse served in exquisite dishes and colourful napery. Each dish tastes as good as they look. The signature Mocktails are almost too pretty to drink, particularly the Silhouette mocktail. This is a sparkling roselle, with mulberry, lychee and rose tea. There is also a rich choice of wholefood wellness shakes such as the Enriched Gut drink which includes glutamine, slippery elm, and homeopathic gut drops which according to the menu, supports integrity of the gut lining and reduces acidity.
As we sip our tea and enjoy the panoramic views of the ocean, we feel a sense of gratitude and harmony. It’s the first time I’ve only spent one day at Kamalaya but it was a wonderful way to remind me of all the great times I’ve enjoyed there, and that first day back at Kamalaya is without doubt always the best. We returned to our villa on the other side of the island feeling like we’d nourished our body, mind, and soul and left feeling replete, and determined to return again soon.
More About A Kamalaya Day Pass
If you are not staying at Kamalaya, but would like to experience the award-winning wellness sanctuary for the day, you can opt for one of the Day Passes available. These include access to the Shakti Fitness Centre, the lap pool, the thermal plunge pools, and the secluded beach, where you can relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Koh Samui. You can also add a Wellness Day & Alchemy Afternoon High Tea package, which includes a High Tea of your choice at the Alchemy Tea Lounge, for only THB1,900 per person (approx. AUD78).
A Wellness Day & Healthy Lunch invites you to enjoy a healthy day at Kamalaya with access to the Shakti Fitness Centre, lap pool, thermal plunge pools and secluded beach, followed by a delicious three course lunch at Amrita Café. Or if a soothing treatment is more your wish, there’s a Day Pass for a Wellness Day & Spa, which incorporates your choice of a 60 minute Asian Foot Massage, Vital Essence Oil Massage, Traditional Thai Massage or Asian Hand Massage.
