Mariage Frères Tea; I am officially converted.
Thé à L'Opéra, Mariages Frères
At any given time, since I left home at the age of 18, you could look into my cupboards and find a wide selection of tea. English Breakfast, Jasmine Green Tea, Peppermint, Chamomile. If you looked in my cupboard 2 years later, you would find the same boxes, still there, gathering dust. Even when I moved, which I have done alot, I felt compelled to take those boxes with me.
But every now and again I would go through a tea phase. In Sheffield, I had trouble sleeping, and so it was that I forced myself to drink Chamomile tea every night before bed. In Germany, I occassionally dealt with stomach aches and knowing that mint tea was good for digestion I ended each meal with a steamy cup. These phases never last very long and end up doing nothing but taking up valuable cupboard space. I can't even remember why I bought that Fennel Tea this past summer, but that first sip caused a full body shudder, and I never went back.
Then I moved to Paris, and for the last 2 months I have completely forgotten about tea altogether. I had heard about Mariage Frères, and the reviews had all been good. But I saw the stores, I saw the products and I saw the price. So I paid no mind. Until one day I was in a gift shop with a small Mariage Frères display. I was drawn to the sight of open canisters, inviting me to stick my nose in and take a nice big smell of the tea leaves themselves. My nose and I were ready to get down to the business of justifying our disdain for spending so much money on a wee bit of tea.
One sniff of Thé à L'Opéra and that was it, my disdain was out the window and this tea was coming home with me. Even if it didn't taste good, I would wrap it up in fabric and put it in my sock drawer, because it smelled so darn nice.
For someone who wasn't a regular tea drinker, spending 10 euros on a 100g canister was entirely against my natural instincts. But sometimes instincts are wrong, right? And though I'm giving a rave review, remember that I've only tried one flavour. But I've got seriously high hopes for the others. And you'd be surprised how far 100g can actually go.
So instead of having 10 random flavours of tea at a cost of 2 euros a box that I will never finish, I have one fantastic tea. And when I don't feel like drinking it I can still stick my nose in and enjoy a little bit of aromatherapy. And on top of that it comes in a really handsome canister. Enough said.
Thé à L'Opéra: The vert vanille aux fruits rouges
(Sweet Spices and Red Fruits Vanilla Green Tea).
Mariage Frères
30 rue du Bourg-Tibourg
Le Marais, Paris
75004
Labels: mariage freres, Paris, tea
posted by Michèle at 6:40 AM
45 Comments:
If you like fruity black teas I highly recommend Exotique and Marco Polo. My two favorites.
I have decaf earl grey leaves that I have become quite devoted to...
the problem is throwing out all those damn bags! (and they are horrible!)
Oh, I'm so glad you have found joy with Mariage Freres. Because how can you not? If you like green tea, you must try Lune Rouge - it's green tea with tiny rose petals, bits of ginger and a faint honey flavor. Fantastic.
I love Mariage Freres! I'm a black tea sort of girl myself, so I love the Marco Polo, and they make a super vanilla tea as well.
Oh how very chic the cansiter is! The warming scent of vanilla always makes me happy, I could see how this tea would have the same effect.
Hhhmm, I love any vanilla infused tea. Never heard of Mariage Freres but I'll be on the lookout. By the way, fennel tea? Blech!
I have to put Mariage Freres on my list of teas to try. Glad you found a really good tea that you'd enjoy. Makes a big difference.
Paz
Hi Amy, thanks for the recommendation, I'm anxious to give them a try!
Hi Blackbird, I know what you mean. I could never throw mine out which is why i kept moving them from place to place, the boxes got very beat up after a while. Which is why Im awfully happy with my fancy new tea canister ;)
Hi Luisa, wow that tea sounds wonderful. Im definitely going to check it out. I can tell already that Im going to love it--you had me at rose petals!
Hi Nosh, well thats 2 votes for Marco Polo so far, good to know!
Hi Tara, I swear the canister is 50% of its appeal, if not more ;) I think you would love this tea, I was really surprised at how fresh it smelled. And all the scents that this one contains seemed very "true", if you know what I mean.
Hi Amylou, I know, Im not sure what I was thinking with Fennel Tea. It was a brief "need to get healthy" phase after spending time with the Brits and consuming vast amounts of beer. But it was not a good tea at all!
Hi Paz, you're right, finding a good tea seems to have made all the difference in the world. My enthusiam for tea is growing pretty quickly now too with all the recommendations Im getting!
Hello Dear Friend!
How I have missed you *hug*
I am so glad that you are posting about tea! and Green tea at that!
It looks like Sencha? Japanese style green tea.... I have one called Gorgeous Geisha (cute name, no?) That is strawberry and cream flavoured (sooooo goood) It is fantastic iced, and I venture that your tea would be just as good! Just think about how good green tea is and how much it is helping your metablolism, I am sure that helps alittle? :)
xxxx thank you so much for the ecard it made my day when case brought it too me in hospital :)
I love this tea too. For your readers in the States, you can buy it at Williams-Sonoma.
Beautiful picture. Sigh. Tea is the best.
Me again.
LOL.
For a woman who isnt that into tea, I suddenly think the name of your blog is quite funny! Is it a reference to something I dont understand?
Hi Clare, nice to see you back. You have been missed around here too ;) And Gorgeous Geisha is a great name for a tea.. I should try mine iced, thats a good idea actually. And yes, I had heard that green tea is good for the metabolism which is great considering all the extra sweets im eating here. And im glad you liked the card, im glad you are getting better!
Hi Rachael, thanks for adding that about W/S, I was kind of wondering if it was available in North America.. Good to know. And its funny that you noticed that about my blog name! Actually the term Oswego Tea has a strange history in my vocabulary and its not so much about the tea, as the fact that I think it's just fun to say. Yes, Im a geek. ;)
Hi Michele -
Now I'm curious about your blog name like Rachael - story!? story!? It is a fun phrase to say. Like you, I have many boxes and unopened bags of tea that I've bought on and off over the years...but can't seem to bring myself to toss. Did you actually toss yours or are you just going to keep them in the cupboard and drink and smell your beautiful new beloved tea? I'm definitely going to have to buy myself this one...see? I told you, I can't help it!
Hi Michelle, ha ha! made you curious did I? well you'll just have to email me your email address and I'll fill you and Rachael in on the odd story ;)
And yes, I did toss the tea only because when we moved from Germany to Paris the car was so jammed full of stuff that we didn't have room for any groceries. But it was a good cleansing experience!
Another item to add to my must-try list! Despite the fact that I'm not much of a tea conoissuer myself, you had me hooked at the description of all that vanilla and red fruits. I think maybe you'll have to brew me a cup, though, just to make sure. How about next week, say, Thursday? Your place ok? ;)
p.s. I'm deeply offended that you guys are smearing the good name of fennel tea - it's fantastic!
Wonderful post and great thread of comments.
I love trying wonderful new teas from a couple of excellent tea shops here in Toronto - everything smells so amazing. But my favorite tea purchase was in the Paris years ago. We stumbled across the Twining shop (I know, I know they're British) and they had Lady Grey Tea. Since Earl Grey and it's bergomat aroma is tops on my list I had to try the Lady Grey. It was awesome and delicate with some kind of flowers in it. I continually look for it and just came across a box of tea bags - good but not nearly as good as opening a canister and getting that first whiff.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi Melissa, ok--you who shunned veggies as a child actually like fennel tea? Im sure there are some that are of better quality and flavour than others, but you are definitely going to have to try hard to convince me. And yes, we will have a tea taste test when you arrive, and a glass of rinquinquin and every kind of chocolate that Paris has to offer..oh the belly will be full to the brim!
Hi Ruth, Im surprised to hear there is a Twining Shop here. I have bought their teas in the past and enjoyed them, when I went through one of my flavour phases. Lady Earl Grey sounds very interesting, its been fun to hear what everyone's favourites are ;)
Dear Ms. Fickle:
First you turn on Laduree, then you confess your love to Mariage Frères!
...oy
hi michele, lovely lovely post, as always.mariage freres is an exceedingly expensive habit to get into...but as with all good things, once you're hooked, there's really no turning back! i love their first flush ambootia estate darjeeling nouveau. and their tea pots...sigh. their teapots are so beautiful i could cry...
And aren't they just the most beautiful tins in the world. I have two but not the same one as you.
It's fiunny but the Twinings tea I have bought in the USA is never anywhere as good as in the UK. I wonder if the Paris Twining is different to the British version too.
Hi David, yes I know, I am your worst nightmare, but you still love me right? ;)
Hi J, Im convincing myself that it will somehow be less expensive because even though the tea is pricey itself, I will waste less of it. I hope! And those do sound like some lovely teapots, I'll have to go have a look.
Hi Sam, yes, the tins are a big selling point of the tea! It's very strange that you find a difference in the Twinings Tea. And I'm curious now too how the Paris version compares. Were your suitcases full of Twinings tea when you left Europe recently?
Love Mariage Freres tea too! It is a bit pricey but delish!! Also love your blog. If you have a chance, please check out mine...katnsatoshiinjapan.blogspot.com
Cheers!!
I'm new to this site, but once I scrolled down to see a feature for Mariage Freres, I had to comment! I absolutely love their tea, and yes, though it is expensive, it is well worth it!
A couple of my favorites are: Earl Grey French Blue (not only does it taste amazing, the tea leaves themselves are gorgeous with little blue petals throughout), Bolero (yellow and blue flower petals mixed in with the tea leaves - delicious!), Marco Polo (fruity and flowery), and Vivaldi (fruits from all fours seasons).
If you live in the Dallas, Texas area, there is a little tea shop, The Cultured Cup, that carries a HUGE selection of Mariage Freres. You can buy the tea by the ounce or in the pretty tins.
Michele, if you like tea, you really should check out La Maison des Trois Thés @ 33 rue Gracieuse, in behind Saint Sulpice. No "flavoured" teas, just really good Taiwanese and Chinese tea.
Hi Kat & Satoshi, thanks for stopping by, and I will definitely check out your blog!
Hi Jana, thanks for the recommendations! it seems Marco Polo is a popular favourite. And the bolero sounds great, I will definitely check it out.
Hi Mikeh, thank you very much for the tip. I often go to that area so I will keep an eye out for it!
hey Michèle,
I discovered your blog today for the first tima and I am loving it.
I am so recognizing myself through this post... I lived a few streets away from Mariages Freres for years witout tasting their tea (silly me!), and now that I have left Paris and live in Lyon I ran to their corner in Le Printemps almost as soon as it opened, and am now a regular customer. I can't go back from My Imperial Earl Grey to old Twinnings...
Hi Flo, thank you, Im glad to hear you are enjoying my blog. And it did take me a couple of months before I finally broke down and tried their tea. I'm glad you were finally able to try some, they definitely get you hooked!
I too have recently got hooked on Mariage Freres 'The a L'Opera' after a trip to Paris in December. Does anybody know of an outlet in UK?
I first tried Mariage Freres Marco Polo when we were in Paris several years ago and I LOVED it! I fortunately bought a lot to bring home to the states since it's difficult to find here. I don't live near a Williams Sonoma and they don't sell the tea online. Any ideas where I can purchase it online...where it is in stock? I did find out the tea was being sold at http://www.sloanhall.com/bath/mariagefrerestea.html but it's out of stock. Ta! Meels
Hi Michele - I went for a cup of afternoon tea at Mariage Freres in Paris this Saturday, and if it hadn't been for you, I would have never made up my mind there! Their tea menu is very long, but I had printed out this post of yours and ordered their 'The a L'Opera'. Absolutely lovely!!!
Dear Michele,
I stopped by the Marais Mariage Freres tea shop, and I sampled the Earl Grey French Blue. I highly recommend that one. The flavor is exquisite. Sweetly perfumed with bergamot minus the acidity that often accompanies.
Hi all
I discovered Bolero at a tea shop in Sassafras, near Melbourne in Australia. My supply has since run out and I've been trying to find a UK supplier of Mariage Freres teas - anyone know of one? I can't make sense of purchasing directly from the French website, partly because I don't speak French and partly because it's UK page mentions an "attached file" that I can't locate.
Hi Squeak,
I've been looking for an outlet in UK since last December but to no avail. A search early on suggested that Harvey Nics in London has some, but I haven't actually been there to find out as I don't live near London. I'm going to Paris in September so will visit 'Mariage Freres' & ask them how we can get hold of some in UK. Frankly I don't hold out much hope. Will report on my return. Soz, I don't know how to become anything but Anon!!
Hi Squeak,
Bolero happens to be one of my favourites too, I understand how you must feel now that it has run out! I keep wondering what I will do if I ever have to leave Paris. As for the UK, I havent heard anyone report on a definitive source for the teas there. But next time Im in the store I will ask and let you know!
I look forward to the results of your visits - until then, I may purchase from the Australian outlet - www.tealeaves.com.au - problem being p+p is likely to be high - I also enjoy/have their Chocolate Chai, but have yet to find out the originators of that one!
Hi Squeak,
I'm hot-foot back from Paris & a visit to 'Mariage Freres'. I bought 2 1/2 kilos of 'The A L'Opera' (it cost about £100!!)which they assured me will last me a year.....not the way I drink it, it won't!!
Anyway, I asked if they had a mail order system that would stretch to us addicts in the UK. They gave me the following:
Tel: +33(0)1 43 47 18 54
Fax: +33(0)1 48 40 40 42
These are their 'Vente A Distance' numbers, so we should never have to do without again. Hopefuly it'll be cheaper for you than sending to Australia!!
Bonne Chance!!
If you're still looking for a UK supplier I found one when I was living in London back in 2004. There is a restaurant on the upper-level of Covent Garden, I think the name was Pierre. They have a coffee on the ground floor onthe corner near the Royal Opera House that sells about five different varieties of Mariage Freres Teas. Hope this helps!
-Christine
Reading through all these comments and postings reminds me dearly of when I lived in France. I too am a huge fan of Mariage Freres, though I must admit that while I knew of the tea, I hadn't tried one until my friend Ellen returned from Paris with a bag of French Breakfast Tea for me. Now I fear that I'll never be able to drink another company's tea (and quite frankly, why would you). On the off chance that someone from Seattle reads this, Mariage Freres can be found at Watson Kennedy. Two locations downtown and I think that there is another somewhere in the city.
I found another source of 'Mariage Freres' tea in the UK when I visited Brighton between Christmas & the New Year. I came cross a delightful shop with quite a selection of the teas we all love. They also had a fine array of beautiful 'Mariage Freres' glass teapots & candles. The gentleman serving was charming & v. helpful. They have a website www.eikonoclast.com, their shop is 7 Kings Rd, Brighton & the phone number is +44(0)1273 821 881. Hope this helps someone.
I am in Tokyo for three months with my partner, and we were both pleasantly surprised to learn there was a Mariage Freres tea shop here. He is French anyway and has quite a collection of MF tea, but we discovered the Nil Rouge, which is perfectly lovely. But of course, our favorite is Marco Polo, with the The a l'Opera running a close second!
Hi, I ordered and just got my Marco Polo tea from www.furansunocafe.com :)
Hello,
I have a few flavors of Mariage Freres tea in my E-Bay store: iii_store.
Please come to visit.
This is the best tea in the world.
Hello,
I live in US and order MF tea directly from http://www.mariagefreres.com/. They have a complete selection of MF tea including caffeine-free type and biscuits as well as honey. Some local boutiques in US only carry a few best-known types and very often they may not be available. Mariages Frères ships their tea to US via UPS Air so shipment arrives within one week. It also comes with a very nice postcard from their company. Normally I’ll place quite a big order each time to save delivery charge.
I tried almost every type of their tea and finally settled down with thé à L'Opéra for almost 2 years now.
Roc
there is a lovely shop in Brighton called Ikonoclast, quite near the sea, it is run by a very nice Japanese man and he stocks Mariage frères. I discovered the teas there, he gives out little sample packets. I love their English Breakfast tea, I'm in the North of England and wish there was a supplier up here somewhere, or an online one..anyone know?
all the best
J
Once you get used to french tea or any tea from good resources, one would never be able to survive without them... I still remember how badly it was in the first month of my stay in Helsinki where only Twinings and lipton can be found...
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