I love Paris and I love tea. So when I visit Paris where is a great tea shop to buy tea or have some tea? Mariage Frères of course! I had my first Mariage Frères tea when my mom brought back a bag of their teas called L’Opéra and I fell in love. So in 2014 I went back to Paris and I told my boyfriend, we have to go to Mariage Frères and bring some tea home. I wasn’t expecting such a great tea shop experience as well.
There are actually many Mariage Frères tea shops across Paris but the main ones are located at Le Marais in the 4th Arrondissement, Rive Gauche in the 6th Arrondissement, Étoile in the 8th Arrondissement and at the Louvre in the 1st Arrondissement. We decided to go to the Mariage Frères in the 4th Arrondissement, the gay part of Paris and a section known for its high end stores and antiques.
The neighborhood of Le Marais adds to the appeal of going to the shop. There is a sense of the past with the curving streets and on the buildings facades. The tea shop is just off of Rue Rivoli on Rue du Bourg Tibourg, around a winding, uphill street. The shop is on the right with a wooden façade and the name ‘Mariage Frères’. Through the windows I could see tea pots for sale with other modern tea equipment.
Once we stepped inside, the mood was very late 19th century Paris with all the teas displayed in individual slots on the wall, the staff dressed in polished jackets, and a sun-room where customers can sit and enjoy some tea. I was in awe and trying to speak French I stumbled on words and felt excited and embarrassed at the same time. The man helping us to pick out some tea went from French to English and back while explaining all the types of teas offered.
Let me say tea talk is hard for me in French. But the nose did most of the work, as we went down the wall and selected different teas we thought we would like. Smelling the different canisters was divine and we got fragrances that were fruity, flowery, herbal, and pungent. I really enjoyed the teas that had strong flavor like vanilla, jasmine and Japanese green teas that are grassy and herbal. The truth is, we had to work off the names because there is way too many to try.
Mariage Frères is known for quality and it shows in the tea. Prices are not cheap but they aren’t bad for the quality you get and the amount. If you’re a tea lover you won’t even worry about the prices and you’ll gladly stock up. After a long debate I ended up taking three teas home, some empty canisters for myself and several others as gifts. I ended up with Mariage Frères most popular tea, Marco Polo, a Japanese herbal called Tamaryokucha, and a fragrant tea called Vanille des Îles.
In terms of variety, choice and presentation; it’s understandable why Mariage Frères is so popular and should be a must visit if you love tea and you’re in Paris. Like I said earlier, they have many stores across Paris but my suggestion is to go to a store that has a “Tea Salon,” where you can sit down, eat and enjoy some tea with a variety of choices. The one in Le Marais was less visited by tourist and had that feel like I was stepping back in time. Make sure to check out their website here for more information! I love Mariage Frères and plan to go back every time I’m in Paris.
