English text at the end of the article
Time goes by and these are my last weeks in Paris. I have been living here for more than a decade and I made my habits in a lot of places, some I go there often and some just once in a while, but still I know I will miss them once I will be gone. Having said that, I keep on discovering places during our strolls in town.
This week-end we crossed the doorstep of a stunning place. A shop and a tearoom that made us fly back in time. Think about yourself in a movie about Shanghai in the 30s, served with tea in fine china cups and terracotta teapots of the size of a doll's tea party, ready to taste some amazing Chinese teas. The choice isn't simple but you are taken care of as in a luxury restaurant for the choice of wine. Delicate white teas, Wulong teas tasting magnolia, undergrowth or gingerbread. Hundreds of teas, vintage teas (yes, as for the wine!) with changing taste and aroma served according to an old ritual.
Peace and sensual delight in all details. And a small feminine touch in the personality of Yu Hui Tseng, better known as Master Tseng, "maître des lieux" and the only woman in the world expert of teas.
An address which is worth the journey, but plan prices worthy of a vintage wine!
Le temps passe et ce sont maintenant mes dernières semaines à Paris.
Après plus de dix ans dans cette ville, beaucoup d'endroits vont me manquer énormément.
Ceci dit, il y a encore beaucoup de lieux que je découvre au fil de nos balades.
Ce week-end nous avons franchi le seuil d'un endroit extraordinaire.
Une boutique et un salon de thé, mais pas comme les autres.
Dans un décor sorti tout droit d'un film sur Shanghai dans les années 30, nous voilà assis devant des théières en terre cuite
et des tasses en fine porcelaine de la taille d'une dinette, prêts pour déguster des incroyables thés chinois.
Le choix n'est pas simple, mais on nous renseigne comme dans un restaurant de luxe pour le choix du meilleur vin.
Des thés blancs délicats, des thés Wulong au goût de magnolia, de sous-bois ou de pain d'épices.
Des thé par centaines, des thés millésimes (oui, comme pour le vin!) au parfum et au goût changeant servis selon un rituel ancien.
Calme et volupté dans tous les détails.
Et une petite touche féminine dans la personnalité de Yu Hui Tseng, mieux connue comme Maître Tseng,
maître des lieux et la seule femme à faire partie de la caste très fermée des plus grands experts de thés au monde.
Une adresse qui vaut le détour, mais prévoyez des prix dignes d'un grand cru!
Pictures by Ilaria Fatone
Time goes by and these are my last weeks in Paris. I have been living here for more than a decade and I made my habits in a lot of places, some I go there often and some just once in a while, but still I know I will miss them once I will be gone. Having said that, I keep on discovering places during our strolls in town.
This week-end we crossed the doorstep of a stunning place. A shop and a tearoom that made us fly back in time. Think about yourself in a movie about Shanghai in the 30s, served with tea in fine china cups and terracotta teapots of the size of a doll's tea party, ready to taste some amazing Chinese teas. The choice isn't simple but you are taken care of as in a luxury restaurant for the choice of wine. Delicate white teas, Wulong teas tasting magnolia, undergrowth or gingerbread. Hundreds of teas, vintage teas (yes, as for the wine!) with changing taste and aroma served according to an old ritual.
Peace and sensual delight in all details. And a small feminine touch in the personality of Yu Hui Tseng, better known as Master Tseng, "maître des lieux" and the only woman in the world expert of teas.
An address which is worth the journey, but plan prices worthy of a vintage wine!