Afternoon tea vs. high tea. Let’s start this post out by discussing these two terms. Basically both are tea times, but actually bottom lining them are the timing. Afternoon tea, also known as “low tea”, is assumed as the having tea activity when we heard “high tea”. Involving things like manner, afternoon tea is meant for social-gathering during mid-afternoon and up until now is adored mostly by women.Why “low tea”? Historical sense described afternoon tea to be served on low table, hence came up the term. It makes sense actually, as having tea and light meal does not really require proper setting of table and chairs; even it will be more comfortable to have a sip of tea seating on fluffy sofa or armchair, or even lazyboy? *okay i’m dreaming* Contrary to low tea, “high tea” is traditionally a set of heavy meal served on a high table at end of workday (5PM++). High tea is more appropriate to address family meal rather than elite social reception.

Done with the long fuss, let’s move to the main point of this post. My group mates and I had been craving to have an afternoon tea together for a period of time. Despite all clashing of schedules and business of assignments we finally picked a date when we would go for a tea session. Y suggested a dessert place, to be exact an all-you-can-eat dessert place with reasonable tag near Dunhua area. Of course for me, I don’t mind any place as I am a newbie in Taipei and so almost certainly have not been to the place she mentioned. We all came to agreement and so Y also helped us to make a reservation.

At the agreed day I arrived there late as in the morning I had a class trip and went for a light lunch with some class mates prior to departing to the tea session venue. Y and the other 3 ladies had been there for about 30 minutes. I was reminded by Y that there is a 100-minute-seating-limit so I had to rush and when I finally arrived make good use of the time left. 

Orange COBO is a special place offering all you can eat meals. They have business lunch (11:30-14:00), cake buffet (13:30-17:00) and dinner buffet (17:00-22:00), all differently priced and of course with different to-be-served items. For the cake buffet, they provide varieties of cakes (of course!), jellies, macarons (not recommended), salad bar, some snacks like pasta, fried chicken, french fries, and self-service drink bar. Besides cold drinks they also provide hot coffee and tea; you gotta pick your own choice of tea. System of getting cakes and jellies in the chiller is quite troubling in my opinion. I prefer self-service for the dessert part as well  Anyway I don’t think this session is considered afternoon tea (it is hectic inside there – most of the patrons are high-schoolers compared to supposed to be normal tea session with relaxed ambience), but well NTD 269 + tax is quite worth for it.

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One point clashing with aesthetics: they don’t frequently change the plates, so pardon the “a-bit-dirty” plates taken in the photos – though i’ve tried my best to clean them before taking pictures. Well..maybe I should go to a real “low tea” house then I can put higher expectation, should I?