This summer Le Palais des Thés is launching a new line of teas packaged in extra large tea bags, a convenient way to brew a pitcher of iced tea. The muslin bags are also large enough to allow for the tea leaves to unfurl completely (that’s essential for the best flavor). Each XL tea bag makes 16 oz of tea (a quart size pitcher requires two bags). There are currently 4 flavors available: Thé du Hammam, Thé des Sources, Thé des Alizés and Wu Long 7 Agrumes.
Thé du Hammam (sweet)
“Inspired by a Turkish recipe, Thé du Hammam evokes the characteristic fragrances used to perfume the hammam: rose, green date, berries and orange flower water. It’s a subtle combination of Chinese green tea and rich, fruity aromas.”
Thé des Sources (refreshing)
“Inspired by a trip to Morocco, Thé des Sources is a refined Chinese green tea flavored with mint leaves and a touch of bergamot for a perfectly thirst quenching drink.” The tea leaves are mixed with rose and cornflower petals.
Thé des Alizés (fruity)
“Inspired by the trade winds, Thé des Alizés is a green tea flavored with an ultra summery combination of white peach, kiwi and watermelon. Superb balance between the green tea and the freshness of the fruits. It is enlivened by flower petals.”
Wu Long 7 Agrumes (uplifting)
“Wu Long 7 Agrumes is an Oolong tea flavored with a ‘cocktail’ of natural extracts of lemon, lime, sweet orange, bitter orange, grapefruit, bergamot and mandarin. When combined with the citrus notes of the fruits, the woody character of Oolong tea takes on a delicious flavor while retaining its long-lasting taste.”
Le Palais des Thés’ XL Iced Tea Bags are sold in packages of six XL tea bags for $12.50, or in an Iced Tea Assortment Box, which includes all four blends for $29. Available in the US via us.palaisdesthes.com. Via Fraiche.
17 Comments
Rita: Thé des Alizés and Thé des Vahines are my favourites from Le Palais des Thés. If you make iced tea with Thé des Alizés, try adding a few strawberries or a slice of pineapple. June 21, 2012 at 7:11am
Victoria: I haven’t tried either one of these, but I love adding fruit to my ice tea. Peach juice mixed into the iced black tea is such a delicious accent. I will have to try your recommendation. June 21, 2012 at 9:41am
Suzanna: Wu Long 7 Agrumes has my name on it. June 21, 2012 at 9:49am
Victoria: Ha! That’s the one I was curious about the most from the list. In fact, the description made me crave it so much that I ended up grating lemon and orange peel and mixing it into my cup of oolong tea this morning. The citrus works so well with green tea! June 21, 2012 at 9:53am
Nancy: Perfect timing for the overwhelming heat we’re experiencing in NY!Only this morning I prepared some iced tea (a blend of leftovers) of Kusmi Prince Vladimir Tea and Lady Gray. Keeping with the citrus theme, Agrumes will be on my list however Hammam sounds very interesting. Tea would more than likely accompany a pastry from Wittamer while in Brussels! June 21, 2012 at 1:09pm
Victoria: Prince Vladimir is one of my favorites too from Kusmi. I also love Zubrovka and want to try their green tea version of this flavor. Robin and Jessica of NST also like Violetta, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Today is cool, but oddly stuffy, so a cup of citrusy tea was perfect. June 21, 2012 at 2:34pm
iodine: I generally don’t drink much perfumed tea, with the exception of “moroccan” ones.
Thé de Sources- which I haven’t tried, I don’t know if I can still find Palais du Thè in Milan- sounds very similar to the gorgeous Mariage Frères Casablanca: green and black tea with nana mint and bergamot. The air in the kitchen smells for hours after having brewed it, not to mention the waste bin where I dropped the used leaves! June 21, 2012 at 1:19pm
Victoria: I never used to drink much perfumed tea either, but whenever I read the descriptions on the tea websites, I get even more tempted than with perfume descriptions. So, I started sampling more flavored teas. Mariage Frères is another tea importer with a great collection, and Casablanca sounds wonderful! I love mint in my tea. June 21, 2012 at 2:37pm
iodine: I forgot to add that, in spite of the very high temperature of these days, I love to drink it hot!! June 21, 2012 at 1:21pm
solanace: Me too, Iodine. Even though I live in the tropic, I like my tea hot. Ice tea sounds so nice, but I never want to drink it! An iced beer, though… June 21, 2012 at 2:38pm
Victoria: See, that makes sense to me. When I was growing up in Ukraine, the idea of chilling the tea was utterly foreign. The fear of drafts and chills is so ingrained in me that even today I can’t drink anything overly cold and I’m that annoying customers at the restaurants who requests for her water without ice. Well, unless I’m in Europe where ice in water hardly ever makes an appearance. June 21, 2012 at 2:39pm
carole macleod: Hello, Victoria,
Another good way to experience this line is their candles-so pretty, with scents that are true to the flavour of the teas. They burn well, and scent the whole room. They have some of the most beautiful containers. I have the hamman candle, and i forget the name of the one I bought for my brother, but it’s in a dark red glass votive, with a design of flying cranes in lighter red. It’s so pretty as it burns!
Hope you are well, sincerely,
Carole June 21, 2012 at 2:57pm
Victoria: I had their Hammam candle years ago and I remember that it was very strong and fragrant. Excellent throw too. I haven’t sampled others, but since there is a store not too far from where I live, I don’t have an excuse not to explore more. Thank you for your recommendations, Carole! June 21, 2012 at 3:22pm
Lysa: Oh I love homemade iced tea. These sound lovely! June 22, 2012 at 5:12pm
Victoria: Iced tea is such a summer favorite for us too, even though I drink mine cool, rather than icy cold! June 23, 2012 at 3:55pm
HB: These sound wonderful for my aunt who lives in the Philippines. She introduced me to Fauchon’s seasonal teas which I drank hot while there – fabulous fruity and aromatic experiences. Even though I tend away from ice, like you, being in that warm and humid a place is one of the only times I would go for an iced beverage. It’s just too chilly and damp where I am from to have the habit! June 23, 2012 at 3:35am
Victoria: The summer here this year is too cold to enjoy iced beverages. The very thought makes me shiver, but the idea of making lemonade or iced tea spells summer to me so readily that I brewed some today. I made rose flavored black tea and added lemon slices and some lemon juice (and sugar). We didn’t drink it completely iced though. 🙂 June 23, 2012 at 3:59pm