Hyperlocal Tokyo

I went to Mariage Frères Ginza Main Store! My daughter loves tea. She loves Mariage Frères. The tea is very expensive. Plus, there are so many varieties that it's hard to choose. I'll either get advice from the staff or read reviews to decide. When you buy, the staff will open a large tea tin and fan it with a large fan. You choose based on the aroma. However, depending on your physical condition and mood at the time, it's hard to find your best tea. 🥲 Choosing tea at Mariage Frères is difficult. I thought, "It's best to have a professional choose for me!" and went to the Ginza Main Store. The store is lined with tea tins, it's impressive. Going up the stairs to the second floor, the interior is French-style and beautiful. It was 5 pm on a weekday, but there were seats available! Lucky. The room is divided into two sections, and I chose a warm room. Maybe because the air conditioning wasn't working very well, or maybe because of the soft color scheme of the room, it felt warm. But even here, I was struggling with the tea. Which one should I choose? I got advice from the staff and decided! My daughter loves Earl Grey, but she chose Jasmine Magic. I chose Marco Polo. It's one pot per person, so it's not one pot for everyone. Be careful. The tea took a while to come. It really took a while. It came after 20 minutes! Finally met Marco Polo, lol. The pot was full of tea. Everyone was enjoying their tea leisurely. It was delicious! But, can I drink it all? After an hour, it was so delicious that I drank it all. There were 3 or 4 cups worth! My fatigue from the day was completely gone and I felt healed. Mariage Frères is healing in every way!

This is a famous specialty tea shop. I visited on Saturday at 1:30 PM. There was a line out the door, but I was able to get a seat after about 20 minutes. I was seated on the second floor, but it seems there is also a third floor. The interior has a calm atmosphere, perfect for a leisurely conversation. There are so many different teas to choose from, and most are priced around ¥1,650 for a pot. There are so many options that it's overwhelming to decide. I ordered the Marco Polo, which was sweet and flavorful, and absolutely delicious. It's truly a renowned establishment.

I've always loved Mariage Frères tea and finally got to visit the shop I've been wanting to go to for so long. It was a weekday evening, so I was able to use the salon without any wait. There are about 600 types of tea, and the desserts are also plentiful, so I recommend discussing your preferences with the staff to decide. You might think it's expensive to spend around 2,000 yen on tea, but it comes in a pot with enough for 3-4 cups, so you can enjoy it leisurely. The desserts were also exquisite, and I savored each bite with the delicious tea. The atmosphere of the shop was also wonderful, and I had a truly blissful time. I also bought some tea that I had been eyeing on my way out. All the staff are knowledgeable about tea and explain things so thoroughly that you can't help but want to buy something. I ended up buying a lot, so I was surprised by the price at the checkout, haha. But I'll definitely visit again when I run low on the tea leaves I bought.

We had the chicken fillet roti, Rouge Plain Lune tea, and tarte citron for dessert. Everything was incredibly delicious! The roti came with turmeric and chai-kalikal sauce and pilaf. The shop has a display of tea leaves and teapots, making it feel like a tea museum. On the first floor, they sell tea by weight. There's a huge selection, so it's easy to get lost, but the knowledgeable staff can help you choose a tea with the aroma you're looking for. The second and third floors are the tea salon, which has a waiting line. The register is right at the bottom of the stairs, so it can be difficult to move around if it's crowded. The lunch and tea were fantastic, but the atmosphere was terrible. It was as noisy as a pub, and there was a customer who kept coughing loudly.

**Updated on July 13, 2024** **Saturday, 12:30 PM:** There was only one group ahead of us, so we were seated immediately. I ordered the Bolero iced, and for the set, I chose the lemon citron cake. The tea had a bright, fruity aroma, but it was gentle on the palate and very easy to drink. The cake was also delicious, with a refreshing lemon flavor that paired well with the sweet whipped cream on top. I bought a Bolero tea bag and a Marco Polo Blue Brim tea leaf tin, so I'm looking forward to enjoying them at home. **Saturday, 3:00 PM:** When we arrived, there were 5-6 groups waiting in line, and it took about 40 minutes to get a table. They have over 100 types of tea, starting at ¥1,540. The staff were very helpful and explained the differences between the teas in detail. We ordered the Christmas Party and Darjeeling Imperial. Both had a lovely aroma and were delicious. We were able to enjoy four generous cups each. About 80% of the customers were elegant ladies. It was a truly refined experience.