We Sit Down With Mary Berry For A Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

To celebrate her 90th birthday, Mary Berry has teamed up with Fortnum & Mason to launch a Cream Tea Selection hamper and a luxurious range of cakes. We sat down for afternoon tea with Mary herself to put the cakes to the test. 

The Fortnum’s X Mary Berry Cream Tea Selection Hamper And Cakes

When it comes to cakes, no one does them quite like Mary Berry. And at 90 years old she doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Stepping into the tea room, we were greeted not (initially) with cups and saucers but glasses bubbling with sparkling rosé. While Dame Mary abstained from a splash of midday fizz – opting for a non-alcoholic sparkling tea instead – when crafting the hamper with Fortnum’s she was insistent that it include a boozy buzz. Though sparkling tea may sound like a strange alternative, this non-alcoholic beverage was almost indistinguishable in appearance from the other glasses. 

Smelling as rosy as you’d expect, Mary was perfectly done-up for the occasion, chatting about her dogs (she particularly enjoyed the framed image of a spaniel sticking his nose in a Fortnum’s bag), her grandchildren, and her love of Pringles – her favourite flavour is Texas BBQ. While there were no crisps on offer, we were served a range of finger sandwiches, including egg mayonnaise, smoked trout with chive cream cheese, ham and mustard, cucumber with lemon and mint, and your classic coronation chicken (Mary’s favourite). 

Introducing her cakes to the room, she explained that this collection is all about creating something ‘special’ (an oft-repeated word throughout our tea) – the sort of gift you would bring a guest to show just how much you really care. While she adores a Victoria sponge – and lemon drizzle is her favourite cake of all time – with this Fortnum’s collection she wanted to create something that people wouldn’t be able to easily whip up in their own homes. 

‘I’ve always believed that a good afternoon tea is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and to work with Fortnum & Mason, who are so synonymous with this tradition, has been a joy,’ said Mary. ‘Together we’ve created a hamper that I hope brings as much happiness to those who enjoy it as it did to us creating it.’

Taste Test

The crack of an egg, the whipping of cake mix, the slap of the oven door and the oh so perfect raspberry popped into place. Anyone familiar with the Great British Bake Off (or rather the early shows) will know Dame Mary Berry is the queen of chocolate cake. And her Indulgent Chocolate Truffle Cake didn’t disappoint. Placed down on the table with about an inch of smooth and moussey chocolate truffle sandwiched between the sponge, it’s certainly an impressive specimen. Dipping the fork in, I was hit with a rich wave of chocolate; already burdening the load of far too many finger sandwiches and scones, I feared how many more bites I would be able to manage. But once the rich tang of the sponge melded with the creamy contents within, my fork started desperately edging back in for more. 

My personal favourite of the collection was the Strawberry Frasier Cake. This cake is packed full of the sort of proper fresh British strawberries you’re only able to find this time of the year. While I am not the world’s greatest marzipan lover, the delicate coating on this cake, mixed with the vanilla touches of cream and sponge, was subtle enough to compliment without compromising each bite with the overwhelming musk of almond. With a so-thin-you-might-miss-it biscuit base, the Luxury Lemon Cheesecake does exactly what it says on the tin, with one cheesecake agnostic having their mind turned in just a few small bites. Citrusy and creamy, this was the perfect remedy to a hot and sweaty summer’s day. 

The Hamper

Alongside the cakes, Mary also sought to curate the perfect Fortnum’s hamper. Offering her a range of strawberry and raspberry jams to choose from, Mary defied expectation by settling on a Morello Cherry & Fortnum’s Cognac Preserve. While I am traditionally wary of cherry-based products, dreading the potential cough-sweety tang of a glacier cherry or artificially flavoured drink, this jam left me a cherry convert. Less obnoxiously sweet than its red rivals, it was the perfect compliment to the Fortnum’s scones and clotted cream (Mary does one half cream then jam, the other half jam then cream: I guess that’s the sort of diplomacy required of a national treasure). 

Alongside the melt in your mouth goodness of the jam, cream and scones, the hamper also includes pistachio and clotted cream biscuits, the Fortnum’s English Sparkling Brut Vintage Rose, Fortnum’s Royal Blend of loose leaf tea, Marc De Champagne Truffles, and Mary Berry’s carrot cake traybake. 

How To Buy

The hamper is available exclusively online for £180 at fortnumandmason.com from 20 August 2025. Mary’s cakes which can be found at Fortnum & Mason’s in-store patisserie counter, include the Strawberry Frasier Cake and Indulgent Chocolate Truffle Cake at £50 as well as the Luxury Lemon Cheesecake at £30 – the cakes are also all sold in individual slices for £5.50. If you don’t want to splash out on the hamper you can also purchase Mary’s carrot cake traybake at the patisserie counter for £15, or a slice for £2.50.