MARIAGE FRÈRES WAS FOUNDED IN 1854 BY TWO BROTHERS, heirs to the family tradition of seeking the best tea plants all over the world since the 17th century.
Passion, elegance and sophistication come together in the oldest tea house in Paris, in the heart of the Marais.
Mariage Frères has some of the fines teas in the world with selection of 600 different varieties and blends, as well as tea-scented products, pots and cups for tea preparation.
Each of its stores is in a lush setting too, with dark brown wood, amber lights, and row upon row of fine teas to buy.
Decorated in an “imperial style” dedicated to the art of tea, it welcomes dark lacquered furniture, red-coloured lanterns and ancient Chinese sketches and works of art on the walls.
Wide array of tea tins and products is staged like a collection. Laid out in an apothecary style, 600 black tea jars enhanced with golden letters: caged in wooden shelving, they recall the atmosphere of old tea counters. A real travel for the senses.
It has a gorgeous little tea room which is the perfect place to sit at the end of a day of wandering. Mariage Frères also sells beautiful tea pots — some modern and some more of traditional design.
From such a selection of teas is really hard to choose. I tried two:
-theine free Red Rooibos called ROUGE PROVENCE
with fragrant interpretation of sunny Provence: aroma of red and black berries is wed to the sweet, mild flavour of the tea leaves, underscored by wild lavender and enlivened by rose petals.
-Marco Polo, most famous secret of mysterious blend that takes you to distant lands and strange countries with aroma of Chinese and Tibetan flowers and fruit lend it a uniquely velvety taste, the most legendary of Mariage Frères flavoured teas
Both extraordinary!
30 Rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 75004 Paris
