New teas

The infusions have a new leaf! Compagnie Coloniale was the first company to develop a vaporization flavoring process, the origin of Thés de Noël. Palais des Thés flooded the market with scented teas, and Kusmi Tea with colorful, stylish tins. All these brands have made a major contribution to the democratization of a beverage from ancient times. Legend has it that, in 2737 B.C., a tea leaf fell from the ground.C, a tea leaf fell into the cup of hot water of a Chinese emperor, Shen Nung, who was dozing under a tea tree. This was the origin of the drink's reputation, which was later popularized by the English and enjoyed almost everywhere in the world.

Today, consumption is on the rise among young urbanites. New merchants are opening their doors in the trendy 2nd, 10th and 11th arrondissements, which are not immune to the sirens of communication.According to an FAO report published in 2022, "tea consumption has benefited from the media campaign around the beverage, its antioxidant effects and its anti-inflammatory and weight-loss properties."

With the current focus on conso-detox awareness and wellness, infusions are in vogue as a first approach to discovering tea through original recipes. The success of bubble tea, a Taiwanese recipe that emerged in the 1980s, lies in its combination of flavors and textures. This blend of sweetened green or black tea, dipped in tapioca pearls, is consumed through an XXL straw. With its milky consistency, it's akin to a liquid dessert, a world away from the tea party and its vermeil cup, saucer and spoon accessories. Tea-drinking is no longer an art, but a state of mind, a disruptive market in which creativity, turning conventions on their head and innovation are a new source of inspiration. The proof is in the form of three French tea houses that are surfing new trends, breaking codes and sharing a common commitment to exploring tastes, democratizing consumption and protecting the planet.

• Kodama, the most creative

Kodama is a recent house, co-founded in 2015 by Vincent Brunet, who became interested in the drink's potential and its modernization. In Kodama's boutique tea bar, you can taste infusions, original recipes worked from natural ingredients. Here, the codes of tasting are revisited, with blends that combine products in the truest sense of the word, inviting you to discover well-thought-out combinations based on whole tea leaves, flowers or fruit, either whole or in pieces. La Part des Anges (white tea, flaked almonds and popcorn) and École Buissonnière (green tea, apricot pieces and lavender petals) illustrate this new trend. The 100% recyclable tea caddies are also refillable... so they can be reused again and again.

30 rue Tiquetonne, Paris 2e

www.kodamaparis.com

• Le Parti du Thé, the most streetwise of all

Le Parti du Thé has been developing street culture for 16 years, turning tea away from elitist consumption.It caters to customers of all ages, with brightly colored tins, or more sophisticated ones like the traditional Japanese washi tins, covered in colored paper (the kind you don't want to throw away). A team of young, skilled sales staff is responsible for arousing curiosity and encouraging discovery, with the credo of "providing the right product for the right moment."Tea consumption must be adapted to different modes of consumption, whether in the workplace, at breakfast or with friends, opening up new olfactory sensations: sencha, oolong and Sicilian mandarins, South African rooibos, blood oranges. Fragrant teas allow for all manner of exuberance, such as Pretty Good Breakfast with its cocoa notes. Well-positioned for Japanese green teas offering good value for money, the house is gradually accompanying the curious in their discovery of grands crus.

34 rue Faidherbe, Paris 11th arrondissement

65 rue de Lancry, Paris 10th

lepartiduthe.com/en/

• L'Autre Thé, the most committed

L'Autre Thé, co-founded in 2007 by Benjamin Dubois and Armand Denin, is committed to criss-crossing the globe in search of small producers able to supply organic teas. The company participates in the positive economy, committed to supporting producers in their eco-responsible approach. The blends are varied and above all organoleptic, helping consumers to gain a greater understanding of teas. Current favorites include oolong tea with floral, honeyed notes, and black tea with bergamot and cornflower blossoms. Exclusive recipes also focus on a detox base, using organic depurative plants with green tea and lemon; green rooibos with blackcurrant and lemon; green tea with pu-erh and citrus. A collection of fruit waters scented with natural oils, including hibiscus, pineapple-coconut or mango and blackberry, complete the range of infusions that set new standards!

17 rue Lacharrière - Paris 11th

32 rue Daguerre - Paris 14th

www.lautrethe.com