European-style Christmas Feast at HowToTrip’s First Gift Concept Store

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Editorial Team, compiled and reported

Afternoon Tea’s 2016 Christmas is themed “Loving Holiday.” LIVING uses elements like the Eiffel Tower and national flag colors to introduce decorations and tableware sets such as “Paris Impression” and “Paris Christmas Night.” TEAROOM curates main courses, cakes, afternoon tea sets, and beverages based on classic French Christmas foods and cooking methods, offering a variety of choices from full meals to afternoon tea for festive gatherings.

Afternoon Tea has transformed its Taipei branch at Uni-President Department Store into a “gift shop,” featuring five dedicated zones: Wedding (newlywed gifts), Baby (newborn items), Made in Japan (carefully selected Japanese goods), New Life (new lifestyle products), and Festival Recommendations. It has also newly developed exclusive packaging paper and box services to meet gifting needs for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Afternoon Tea noted that France is home to one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, and the romantic atmosphere of the Eiffel Tower is a beloved attraction for many Taiwanese. To bring the lively festive feel of a market to the public, France was chosen as this year’s theme. A Japanese design team was specially commissioned to recreate Parisian-style tableware for Taiwan. Sales data from last year showed that LED lights, snow globe ornaments, and hanging decorations were the most popular.

This year’s new products feature cute hand-drawn elements by Japanese illustrator Chico. The elegant and stylish patterns of Chico’s hand-drawn Christmas trees and wreaths are applied to Christmas ornaments, LED decorations, and displays, echoing the “2016 Love. Sharing” Christmas campaign. In addition to special in-store promotions, workshops on Christmas-themed decorations and cooking classes are offered to enhance the festive mood.

Afternoon Tea TEAROOM offers a diverse selection from full meals to afternoon tea, with a special recommendation being the Paris-style smoked duck quiche platter. The buckwheat flour-infused quiche is crispy with a unique aroma. The recipe incorporates the French technique of beurre noisette (caramelized butter), giving the pastry a hazelnut-like fragrance. It is filled with a variety of ingredients including roasted potatoes, soft-boiled eggs, and smoked duck—perfect for experiencing a French Christmas.