One is sure to expect the love for all things scented from the one obsessed with fragrance. If you add a cultural disposition to tea drinking by gallons to this, then the result is a love for all kinds of scented beverages. Although often a cup of smoky lapsang souchong, refreshing sencha or delicate white tea is perfect by itself, flavored tea can be a nice treat, especially if the flavors are subtle and blended in order to accent the scent of the tea leaf, as opposed to scream “synthetic strawberry.” …
If Le Palais des Thés, a French tea importer that started out as a group of fifty tea enthusiasts, were to make their Thé du Hammam into a fragrance, I would not hesitate about buying a bottle. The blend of rose and orange blossom is accented by tart green dates. The base of astringent and slightly bitter Chinese green tea provides a perfect counterpoint to the rich roses and tart red currants. Summer mornings are not the same without a cup of this mélange inspired by a traditional Turkish recipe. Better still, it can be served chilled, thus making a perfect summer drink.
A recent addition to the line has been a Thé du Hammam candle, which is packaged in a cobalt blue glass and offers about 50 hours of burning pleasure. The scent is true to the tea, although the rose and dates notes are heavier. The lovely fragrance lingers softly after the candle has been lit, yet the throw is potent enough to make it a worthwhile addition to my candle repertoire.
If you are a tea lover, Le Palais des Thés selection would definitely be a delight, ranging from the most unusual of white teas to Grand Yunnan Impérial, which is known as “the coffee of tea.” In the States, tea ($13 per 100g) and candle ($66) are available from Le Palais des Thés Los Angeles store (call 310 271 79 22 for a mail order). The products and the catalogue are available at Le Palais des Thés, for viewing and ordering.
8 Comments
parislondres: Great review V and as you know I do like their teas. I must return to get some more tea from there. Have become lazy with a few tea stores near my place.
xoxo August 18, 2005 at 6:10am
BoisdeJasmin: Dear N, thank you. I love their store in le Marais. The staff is always very friendly and helpful, even when I am buying up small quantities of 20 different kinds of teas. I always try new things, and they never fail to please me.
xoxo August 18, 2005 at 9:13am
mreenymo: So you had to list the LA phone number, didn’t you, V? :):) Luckily, the store is on the westside of town and I am on the NE side, but you have definitely put that proverbial bug in my bonnet…and I don’t even like candles!! :):)
Hugs! August 18, 2005 at 1:30pm
mreenymo: P.S.–They need to start making perfumes! August 18, 2005 at 1:31pm
BoisdeJasmin: Dear R, you should make a trip to the store, especially if you like tea. The candles are nice, but the tea is amazing. They have several varieties I carry with me whenever I have to travel. If you make a trip to the LA store, please let me know how you liked it.
xoxo August 18, 2005 at 1:34pm
Campaspe: I should call and get some of that Majian Assam you got for us. DH still misses that tea and I didn’t replace it in Paris. I liked it even better than The du Hamman. August 20, 2005 at 8:31am
BoisdeJasmin: They have a very nice customer service, whether in their LA store or in France. I used to order teas directly from Paris via website, but the shipping charges to the States are very high, therefore mail order from LA is very convenient. August 20, 2005 at 7:37pm
Le Palais des Thes Flavored Teas : Tea Review « Bois de Jasmin: […] This green tea, blended with flower petals, is flavored with an enchanting blend of rose, green dates, orange blossom, and red currant. As the name suggests, this blend is inspired by the relaxing scents of a Turkish hammam. This was another favorite of mine from the set, and when I first tasted it, I immediately felt like I was being transported to the serenity of a hammam. As such, I can immediately understand why this is one of the most well known and bestselling blends from Le Palais des Thés. For more information on this tea and its matching scented candle, please read Victoria’s review here. […] March 28, 2013 at 7:07am