The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2022 - Issue 32

Over The bitegifts FRÈRES CHRISTMAS W hen King Louis XIV and the French East India Company encouraged distant land exploration in search of exotic goods, the tea trade in France began to bloom in the middle of the 17th century. Voy- ager Nicolas Mariage travelled to Persia and India before the king sign a trade agreement with the Shah of Per- sia. His brother Pierre was sent to Madagascar on behalf of the French East India Company. The Mariage family ventured into the tea trade and opened their first shop in Paris in 1843. In June 1854, Henri and Edouard Mariage founded the tea emporium and purveyor Mariage Frères. Inspired by France’s culinary and wine traditions, the brothers sought to blend quality teas to excite and satisfy the pal- ate. Over a century later, their world-class blends remain synonymous with French tea culture and the world, combining ingredients that provide an adventure of dis- covery. They offer a selection of over 800 references from 36 tea-producing countries representing all types of tea. Mariage Frères also purveys the necessary accessories for the preparation, conservation and tea tasting ac- cording to the French Art of Tea rules. Its tea counters have an unparalleled range of gourmet tea-based crea- tions alongside chocolates, biscuits, sablés (cookies) and gelées (gelatine). Their wine cellar-inspired selection sees the most exceptional crus composed of subtle and sophisticated productions, so unique and refined that connoisseurs select them for special occasions. Besides the typically known green and black teas like Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon and China, other variations include the fermented matured Pu-erh tea, historically developed in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) in the Yunnan Province, China. Its preparation requires suc- cessive stages of a long fermentation process in cellars specially designed for ageing. The longer it is kept, the more the matured tea’s fragrance will develop, acquiring depth and a mild, subtle flavour. Buddhist monks initially drank Japanese tea, but it was also the prerogative of lords and aristocrats. Japan has wide varieties of green tea, but export is limited, given strong domestic demand. They are grown in Shizuoka, Miye, Kagoshima, Kyoto, Nara, Saitama and Fukuoka tea regions. The green, smoked black and blue teas in- clude 88th Night Tea, Matcha Kyoto, Nishi Cha, Bacha Suprême, Smokey Sakura, Smoky Hinoki and Kyoto Oo- long. Scented tea like black, blue, green, rooibos and jasmine have unique fragrances. Lucky Tea 168, a blue tea en- closed in a green bottle, has soft, fragrant, crisp notes of clover blossom coloured with shades of indigo. It is Rainbow Noël