In 2005 finding it hard to adjust to my newly adopted country, my friend Sandra comforted me with a cup of ‘The Sur Le Nil’ from ‘Mariage Freres’ and some of her best baking. Somewhat later she presented us with a selection of their beautifully packaged teas as a wedding gift.
The Sur Le Nil – Fruity & Lemony Green Tea
The Wedding Gift – A selection of tea from Mariage Freres
Around 1660, Nicolas Mariage was dispatched to Persia, the East Indies and the Moghul Empire by King Louis XIV, whilst his brother Pierre travelled to Madagascar; both on behalf of the French East India Company. A 100 years later, Jean-Francois Mariage still traded in tea and spices and taught the business to his four sons in Lille. In 1845 two of the sons Aime and Auguste, founded ‘Auguste Maraige & Company’ in Paris. Having learned the trade from their father, Aime’s sons Henri and Edouard founded the Mariage Freres tea company in Paris on June 1, 1845.
Mariage Freres sells more than 500 high quality teas grown in 35 different countries. They uphold the fine art of serving tea by design and reproduction of beautiful tea services, teapots and utensils.
‘The fragrance of adventure and poetry endlessly pervades each cup of tea’ Henry Mariage.
Mariage Freres tea is now available in the basement of Selfridges, Oxford Street, London.
Tea: Passion, Savoir-Faire And Tradition
