November is certainly the best month of the year to get addicted to tea! Find the perfect cosy place at home, put the kettle on and choose the best tea according to your mood. And breathe. Deeply. Everyone needs time for themselves. Everyone deserves a break during these crazy days. Just add some tea to your life (if you don’t already)!
My own experience of tea is based on curiosity, seduction … and  obsession! I have known Mariage Frères for a very long time and their luxury varieties of teas have always been the perfect antidote to the gloomiest days for me!!
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON presents you the French oldest tea house, which opened its first UK tea emporium in Covent Garden in early 2019.

Mariage Frères, French gourmet tea company

Mariage Frères was founded in Paris in 1854, which make it France’s oldest Tea House.

As far back as I can remember, I think these teas have always been a reference to me. I LOVE their branding and the large offer in tea varieties: the brand claims to have “over 1000 references from 36 tea-producing countries with every type of tea represented” (i.e. white teas, yellow teas, green teas, black teas, blue teas, red teas, matured teas, compressed teas, crafted teas, blended teas….).

For sure it’s always very impressive to select a tea when you have plenty of choice. But the staff is always very friendly and help you out in your choices according to your tastes (I somehow tend to buy more teas than I actually need, but haven’t found the way to resist yet!).

If you want the whole experience of tea tasting at home, Mariage Frères provides “all of the necessary accessories for the preparation, conservation and tasting of tea according to the rules of the French Art of Tea”. And look at those lovely accessories!!

As soon as you enter this temple, you’ll just find every item absolutely irresistible!

Mariage Frères at Covent Garden

Mariage Frères opened its first UK tea emporium in Covent Garden in early 2019, including a shop, a tea room upstairs and a small museum.

Covent Garden was an obvious choice for the brand in terms of location: it’s one of the trendiest places in London buzzing with life in the fields of art, culture, fashion, which perfectly fits with Mariage Frères because “the brand is not only about tea, it’s an “art de vivre” around tea”.
While drifting through the main menu, I was curious to discover the “Cuisine au Thé” and ended up upstairs having lunch in the tearoom. I opted for the Kale and Halloumi Salad Flavoured with Paris-Provence Tea. Simple but efficient: fresh ingredients (still inspired by summer!), intense flavours, a perfect sweet and salty mix of fruits, halloumi and salad. And I loved the addition of the tea, both in terms of taste and aesthetics!
Mariage Frères has also everything to satisfy the sweet tooth: a full range of gourmet tea-based creations – chocolats, biscuits, sablés, gelées, tea-infused desserts…
Wouldn’t be fair to continue the list and zoom on these mouth-watering pastries, just be aware that Mariage Frères has a take away offer in London for tea and tea-infused desserts (the brand even confirmed “their online shop was able to deliver order worldwide in a very short time”. Just saying).

Christmas at Mariage Frères

Christmas is fast approaching and Mariage Frères has got plenty of gift ideas!

Like the brand new “Noël In Love”: a collection of cotton muslin tea bags (3 teas in a gift set – black tea, green tea & rooibos)…

or these other options: “Christmas Party” and “Christmas song”, the colourful and gourmand black teas!
But the best in my opinion is to wait for the Tea House to reopen soon and browse in the shop for the perfect present!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to visit Mariage Frères Tea House soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

To go further:
Mariage Frères Covent Garden: 38 King St, WC2E 8JS
Website