Mariage Frères
Parisian tea house founded in 1854. The defining French tea brand; the Marais flagship is one of the most important tea retail experiences in the world.
Mariage Frères is the defining French tea house and one of the most important tea retail experiences in the world. The Mariage family had been involved in tea trading since the 17th century before brothers Henri and Édouard Mariage formally founded the brand in 1854. The flagship in Paris's Marais district is a tea retail experience without close parallel — over 1,000 teas in the catalog at any given time, presented across multiple floors with adjacent dining rooms serving tea-paired meals.
The French tea tradition Mariage Frères represents is distinct from both British and Asian traditions: emphasis on flavored blends (Marco Polo, Wedding Imperial, Earl Grey French Blue), elaborate gift presentation, and a cultural framing that treats tea drinking as analogous to wine appreciation. The international retail expansion — Tokyo, London, Berlin, Soho NYC — extended the experience globally without diluting the editorial standards. Pricing reflects the positioning; this is the premium end of the European tea market.
Focus areas
Tea types carried
- Black
- Green
- White
- Oolong
- Pu-erh
- Rooibos
- Flavored
Retail locations
- Paris (Le Marais flagship + multiple)
- London
- Tokyo
- Berlin
- New York (Soho)