As the warm, golden days of summer stretch into long, leisurely evenings, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul introduces a seasonal experience designed to capture the essence of the season: the 101 Days of Summer Afternoon Tea. Running daily from June 1 to September 9, 2025, in the Hotel’s elegant lobby lounge, Maru, this offering brings together local, seasonal ingredients with nature-inspired creativity. Complementing the tea is the 101 Days of Summer Drinks Menu, a stylish four-drink homage to the country’s beloved summer fruit, the Korean peach.
Maru’s afternoon tea experience draws inspiration from a summer stroll through the nearby Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds. Presented against the backdrop of Seoul’s sun-drenched cityscape, the tea transports guests to the countryside through the use of aromatic native herbs and flowers. Executive Pastry Chef Steven Jin showcases his creative approach with inventive flavour pairings such as banana with Sancho pepper, and local hibiscus with Dulcey chocolate, subtly reflecting both Korean cultural elements and the chef’s own Asian heritage and French culinary background.
Savoury selections are light and expressive, featuring a King Crab Tartlet with compressed Korean cucumber and lime gel, reminiscent of a coastal breeze. Cured ham is paired with pickled quail egg and sauce Gribiche, while Peking Duck Rillette is accompanied by sweet Korean peaches and Baeri caviar for a refined balance of savoury and sweet. Smoked salmon is brightened with citrus crème and salmon roe.
Sweet offerings capture the vibrancy of the season: Shine Muscat Textures with green matcha Chantilly, a Summer Cherry Tartlet enhanced with basil ganache and cherry coolant, and an Apple Cinnamon Brioche using orchard-fresh fruit. Additional highlights include a Raspberry Ginseng Compote with vanilla Chantilly, a daring Sancho Pepper Mousse with passion fruit confit, and a Dulcey Chocolate Mousse featuring hibiscus and grapefruit, a playful take on a French classic.
The accompanying 101 Days of Summer Drinks Menu explores the versatility of Korean peaches through four bold and imaginative beverage creations. Available either as part of the afternoon tea or on their own, these drinks merge traditional flavours with modern flair.
The Boksunga Bellini blends white peach, elderflower, and prosecco for a sparkling introduction. Peaches & Cream offers a whimsical, dessert-like mocktail combining yellow peach, vanilla, and orange blossom with a meringue garnish. Blood Peach Sujeonggwa reimagines the traditional Korean punch with cinnamon and ginger notes, while the Cold Brew Ashotchoo introduces a refreshing fusion of cold brew, peach-iced tea, and mango nectar.
The 101 Days of Summer Afternoon Tea is priced at KRW 160,000 for two guests, inclusive of unlimited coffee or tea and one seasonal beverage per person. An additional guest can be added for KRW 80,000.
