The color of 2022 is mint green, but it has always been a nice color to have around during hot weather for its psychological cooling effect. Moreover, mint flavors, especially combined with chocolate, have been getting more popular in Japan in recent years, even spawning a buzzword チョコミン党 (chokomintō, literally "chocolate mint party") to describe those who love them.

If you find yourself in the Venn Diagram of people who live in the Tokyo area, love mint green color, mint and chocolate flavors, pastel colors, sweets, all things cute and romantic, afternoon tea parties and Alice and Wonderland, you're in luck!

Hilton Tokyo is having an "Alice's Peppermint Tea Party," a summer lunch and sweets buffet inspired by the story of "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, from Friday, May 27th to Wednesday, August 31st, at the hotel's first floor Marble Lounge.

In a space decorated in refreshing mint green colors, you can enjoy not only chocolate mint sweets by Executive Pastry Chef Osamu Harita, but also 20 kinds of sweets using fruits like white peaches, muscat grapes, and melons, not one or two but three chocolate fountains including the "Mega Mint" fountain, and 10 kinds of savory items including roast beef, quiche, and of course, sandwiches. You'll also have a choice of 15 kinds of drinks including Ronnefeldt tea, a high-end German tea brand. The price will be 5,000 JPY per person (5,800 JPY on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) and the event will be held from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).

The setting at the Marble Lounge will make you feel as if you have wandered into a storybook world with seasonal sweets and buffet table decorations. For this special event, you'll find tea party-themed decorations based on mint green and white tones, with roses, hearts, playing cards, and other elements bringing Alice's story to life, including many sweets inspired by the story.

Among Chef Harita' creations, you'll find the "Drink Me," a classic in the Alice's story, and the "Mint Green Crown" cake, a cream cheese mousse with blueberry and lavender jelly, coated with a mint green glaçage (icing).

The "Card Soldier's Secret Pleasure" with muscat and peaches simmered in lemongrass in a fromage blanc filling has a sophisticated taste with a hint of Riesling wine as an accent. The "Cool Cheshire Cat," with its bright stripes, is an impressive pistachio mousse with blood orange compote accented with Chartreuse, the queen of liqueurs.

Other playfully entitled and beautifully decorated desserts include the "I'm Tickled Pink" with almond-coconut praline and raspberry-flavored cream sandwiched between puff pastry, and the "Even Though It's Green, It's Not Chocolate Mint?!"

"Chocolate Mint Party" members will appreciate the "Alice Stan's Chocolate Mint Cake" with bitter chocolate sponge topped with chocolate mint cream, Oreo cookies, and blackberries, the "Chocolate Mint Cocktail for Lovers" with mint-flavored panna cotta and dark chocolate jelly, and "Chocolate Mint Cupcakes," vanilla cupcakes topped with chocolate mint cream.

The chocolate fountain, a tower of chocolate about 1 meter in diameter, will be available in white and mint chocolate, as well as the cool "Mega Mint." The stunning visuals are sure to win the hearts of chocolate mint lovers.

Chef Harita's playful spirit is evident in his carefully crafted sweets, each one a delicious re-creation of elements from Alice's tale. The "Hatter" is made with Darjeeling tea infused with blackcurrant and vanilla and dark chocolate ganache, the "Would You Care for Some Milk Tea?" is a milk tea mousse with caramel nougat and served in a teacup, the "Her Majesty the Queen" has two layers of chocolate mousse, one with blackberry flavor and the other with dark chocolate, and a fig compote, and the "Drink Me" features a mint-green color combination of coconut milk and oat milk with honey, peppermint and lemongrass.

You'll have a choice of 10 different savory items including radicchio and mandarin orange salad with yuzu dressing, assorted sandwiches, white minestrone with seasonal vegetables, salmon and broccoli quiche, steamed catch of the day with green peas and rapeseed blossoms, as well as juicy roast beef carved by the chef in front of you.

Among the 15 types of beverages, you'll be able to enjoy eight kinds of tea made by Ronnefeldt, a high-class tea brand in Germany, with flavors like "Peppermint" and "Lemon Sky."

"Alice's Peppermint Tea Party" Lunch & Sweets Buffet Overview

• Venue: Marble Lounge (Hilton Tokyo 1F)
• Period: Friday, May 27th - Wednesday, August 31st
• Hours: Monday - Friday, 11:30 am - 5:30 pm (6 seatings)
; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (3 seatings) (Business hours are subject to change)
• Price: 5,000 JPY per person (5,800 JPY on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) *Tax and service charge are included.
• Reservations