Tea in Paris - Mariage Frères
The old fashioned sign outside proudly proclaims that the tea shop was founded in 1854. As soon as you open the door, you are enveloped by the intoxicating odor of exotic teas. The colonial decor, the staff dressed in impeccable linen suits, and the tins of tea lining the walls like in an-old fashioned drug store, only add to the feeling that you've stepped into another time. The shop is invariably crowded, which is a blessing because choosing from the extensive menu is no easy task. The staff are knowledgeable, and are happy to recommend a tea suited for a particular tea-drinker or situation. Once you decide on a flavor, the clerk opens the tin for you to examine the tea and inhale the aroma. When you nod your approval, he will carefully weigh the tea and pack it into a trademark black bag, sealed with a Mariage Frères sticker. You then go pay for your purchase at the cash register booth, and finally exchange the receipt for your tea purchase, just like in the olden days.
The illusion of stepping into a time-warp is nearly complete. But let me let you in on a little secret - the shop and adjacent tea room date only from about 25 years ago, when the Mariage Frères company was bought out by a couple of foreign entrepreneurs who transformed the tea importer into the chain of luxury tea shops/tearooms that we know today. The company is still run by the original Thai businessman with great success.
The decor may be phony, but don't let this get in the way of enjoying their superb tea. Fortunately their tea is not only delicious but an affordable luxury (about 6EUR for small bag of 100g). Some favorites are: Marco Polo, Chandranagor, Eros, and Earl Grey French Blue (an earl grey with pretty blue flowers).
In addition to carrying several hundred tea varieties and blends, the shop also has a wide selection of tea accessories, tea flavored treats, gift boxes, and books.
There is a tea room in back, but the line is always very long, so I suspect it's probably worth the wait.
3 Locations in Paris (and 2 in Japan, as well!)
30, rue du Bourg-Tibourg (in the Marais)
13, rue des Grands Augustins (6th arrondissement)
260, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoreé (8th arrondisment)
If you want your tea in a hurry and without hassle, I recommend you try their self-service shop "Thé Français" across the street from the Marais location. Each tea is ready-packed, and if you have trouble picking, you can sniff and examine the samples in clearly labeled glass jars.
