Destination Tea Reviews/Georgia

Destination Tea: Gula Indonesian Desserts

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Where:  Doraville, Georgia
Style:  Dessert cafe
Tea Selection:  19 Indonesian loose leaf teas by Haveltea
Teatimes:  Daily, 12 or 3
Reservations:  Required
Contact:  470-359-4899
Cost:  $47.50 Indonesian Afternoon Tea
Destination Tea Tip: Emma will contact you prior to your visit to ask for guest names and allergies.

Prices and teatimes are subject to change. Please see our Atlanta afternoon tea directory for the latest details.

outside Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia

Destination Tea Notes: Absolutely do not judge this afternoon tea by its strip mall outer appearance! Inside awaits one of Atlanta’s best afternoon teas, that (bonus) also invites you to explore Indonesian cuisine. Once you’ve had afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway, don’t be surprised if you find yourself, as we did, returning with more and more friends and family to share with them the delights of this experience. Three generations of the Ariesandi family are behind Gula’s afternoon tea: [grandmother] Ninik’s family recipes inspire [daughter] Chef Gloria’s afternoon tea creations, while [grandaughter] Emma hosts afternoon tea guests with diligent grace. Emma confessed that she has long loved going to afternoon tea, and only hoped she would one day be able to run a tearoom. Both her love of this tradition, and her excitement at having her dream come true so early in her adult life, are obvious in how she takes care of her guests.

An unparalleled amount of attention is given to the details here. Guests’ names are printed on menus with frangipani barrette favors attached, while the cafe’s arch molding is repeated in the menu design. Emma invites us to explore tea sniffers to choose our teas, which she will decant for you by request, setting teapots on tea warmers after she has poured out first cups. Chef Gloria comes out from the kitchen to present the tiered tray, kindly translating and describing the popular flavors in each Indonesian treat. Emma brings us clean plates after the savory course and surprises us with flutes of jasmine lychee sparkling green tea at the meal’s finish. When one of our guests had to cancel last-minute, Emma kindly packed up her afternoon tea, including hand-written heating instructions and kind wishes on her to-go cup of tea.

We notice traditional Indonesian batik fabric used for table runners, and love that all the teas served here are sourced from artisan growers in Sumatra and Java (Indonesia being one of the top ten tea growers in the world). Guests will learn that the pandan plant, ubiquitous in Southeast Asia, popularly flavors many Indonesian dishes, including several at this afternoon tea: Pandanussa tea, pandan jam for scones, pandan custard, pandan sponge cake and pandan pancakes for dessert. For the time being, while they perfect an in-house scone recipe, British fruit scones and real clotted cream are brought in from Norcross’ Taste of Britain shop.

In addition to being reasonably priced, and accessibly located right off the I-285 Buford Highway exit, this afternoon tea would also be a special activity to entertain out-of-town guests. In summation, add Gula Indonesian Desserts to your destination tea wishlists. Everyone we’ve taken to this afternoon tea has been enchanted by it, and we think you will be too.

inside Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Mauve and golden yellow accent the beige interior.
table set for afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Our tea table is set with teapots, warmers and tea sniffers.
frangipani flower barrette favor at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
I am personally welcomed in Indonesian, “Selamat datang Angela” and Chef Gloria explains that the frangipani flower grows throughout Indonesia. Perhaps you’d like to wear yours during your afternoon tea here.

Tea Selection

teas offered at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Indonesian teas served at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
tea sniffers to find your favorite tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
We advise coming here with a larger group so that you can try many of these lovely teas.
Havelteas offered at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Each guest will choose a tea, which is helpfully labeled with intensity level.
pouring the tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
tea is served at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
blue tea at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Over the course of our three visits, we found several favorites among the offered teas: Amala Rose white tea, Asana Bleu herbal with lemongrass and ginger (pictured above), Pandanussa green tea with pandan leaf and cinnamon, and Toraja Breakfast black tea with chocolate flavor.
Emma serves sparkling tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Emma concludes our visit with a jasmine lychee sparkling green tea offering, garnished with fresh lychee.

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

tiered tray arrives at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
bringing mom to afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
larger tea parties at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Four tiers of wood petals make up the tiered tray
savories at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Here’s where the menu has some crossover between afternoon tea and high tea. Though these savories are meant to be eaten as finger foods, they are hearty and served warm, much like the typical high tea foods (i.e., meat pies). They are each delicious and satisfying. Pastel are crispy pastries filled with egg, carrot, potato and glass noodles. Bitterballen are a remnant of Dutch colonialism, crisped potato balls with creamy chicken and carrot filling. Lemper Ayam is a sticky rice filled with flavorful, slow-cooked shredded chicken. A slightly hot peanut sauce and tiny green hot peppers are provided to spice up this course.
Inside the crispy Pastel (above), and (at right), each guest receives two of these Bitterballen.
scones with pandan jam at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Scones from Taste of Britain are soft enough to split, improved by the addition of real clotted cream (Emma kindly accommodated our request for more) and smooth pandan jam.
indonesian desserts at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Bubur Campur is a savory, only slightly sweet dessert, with rows of tapioca jelly, pandan custard and al dente black sticky rice. We drizzle the provided coconut cream on top.
dessert is served at afternoon tea at Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
Putri Ayu is a picture perfect pink flower sponge cake topped with shredded coconut. Green pandan pancakes filled with grated coconut and palm sugar are called Dadar Gulung, and the dessert we learned to save as the best for last is Talam Ubi — a sweet potato and coconut steamed cake. We also try a changing variety of tropical fruits: persimmon, guava, rambutan, dragonfruit and jack fruit chips.

Destination Tea’s Afternoon Tea Scorecard

Destination Tea's afternoon tea rating for Gula Indonesian Desserts on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia
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Tea Voyageuse, discovering the world of afternoon tea, based in Atlanta, Georgia.

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