When I think of Paris, I think of Cafes. Since my first visit to the City of Lights, I was entranced by the cafe culture that is an integral part of French life. I had made the assumption that espresso was the go to hot beverage of the French. I was terribly wrong. On my most recent visit to Paris, I quickly learned that France has as a long and enchanting history with tea.
King Louis XIV, The Sun King, had endeavored during his rule of France, to capture the trade markets of the world. Explorers were bringing tea with them when they returned from long voyages across deserts and oceans. He had the vision to establish and capture the tea trade and become the ruler of European tea traders. He made it his mission to establish healthy trade with the far lands of the earth and bring their riches back to the shores of Europe. His tradesman established houses and strong legacies that have survived the centuries.
One of those traders, Damman, was commissioned by the king to import tea. This house preserved and reignited the legacy in the 1920’s by the Dammann brothers.
Dammann is many things, but above all it is a company that produces many of the most exquisite teas of the world. The company is worldwide and their mission is to source the best teas form where they are discovered, which happens to be many countries scattered over several continents.
I was lucky that my hotel had a selection of tea from Damman and that prompted me to visit their anchor store in Le Marais. My breakfast tea had been so filled with light and enchanting flavors, I was invited to visit one of their ateliers in Paris.
Their anchor store is located in Le Marais, so I decided to make an afternoon of it and headed out for a walk across the ancient center of the city to find Dammann. When I reached Le Marais, it was a quiet afternoon in Le Marais. Le Marais is the oldest part of Paris. Its streets are ancient and charming. Narrow, cobblestoned streets wind through Le Marais; many leading to beautiful parks and hidden courtyards. Le Marais has become a sought out neighborhood and many of the residents establish boutiques with fine goods there. The stores are eclectic and colorful; offering up some of the finest goods to be found in Paris. I found my way to the Damman boutique after a thouroughly entertaining walk through the district. The inside was paneled in dark, sophisticated wood paneling and lovely graphics were positioned above interesting displays of tea and equipment for making tea. With the dark, elegant decor and the walls lined with canisters of tea, it was like walking into another world, filled with elegance and a product created to delight the senses. It was not just a store, but an experience where tea could be sampled examined and tasted.
In several areas, there were displays of fresh tea, which could be sampled. There were also all kinds of tea cups, tea pots and tea infusers and beautiful gift boxes; some clad in leather with a snap to secure the lid that enclosed the tea. The impression was of elegance, refinement and fine tea. The teas I sampled were fresh and each possessed it’s own unique, inviting aroma. I was especially drawn to the Jaune Lemon Green Tea in crystal sachets and brought some home with me.
Visiting Dammann is a window to the first days of the tea trade in France. It’s also a showcase of the finest calibers of tea available in the world. If you love tea, this is a tea shop that should not be missed.
