Paris fashion week trip in September provides me a great exploration more of the luxury marketing strategies: the private runway, the grand showroom and the insightful conversation, all are the valuable access to the industry knowledge. Besides of the food for the brain during the work, gaining a box of le macaron from Ladurée after office hours is a must-do before departure at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle.
The flavor choices of square box of 8 piece macaron are Chocolat, Rose, Caramel Fleur de Sel, Pistache, Fraise Bonbon, Framboise, Cotton Candy & Bubble Gum. These mini round pastries are crispy on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, if not able to consume at the moment of purchase, then removing them from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes prior to serving, can offer the best quality. Caramel Fleur de Sel is still one of my favourites, while for the seasonal selection, it is quite difficult not falling in love with Bubble Gum, which owns the rosy taste of upper/bottom crumbly bites, but creamy ice cream feel of ganache fillings.
Ladurée mini chocolat au lait 41% de cacao is not just one of the best souvenirs to processes, but also the easy treat to friends or colleagues. At afternoon teatime
After tasting courtyard tea at MUSÉE DU LOUVRE, Thé du Louvre by PALAIS DES THÉS, is the must-get souvenir after the museum day. This 20 hand-stitched cotton tea bags with whole leaf tea, offers blended black tea from Sir Lanka, India and China, with 2% of bergamot and forest fruits, plus a slight amount of cornflowers petals, brewing in 90 Celsius degree with 5 minutes, squeeze the organic honey as the final touch, rich but not bitter, are the best flavor to enjoy during the holiday season.
François-Xavier Delmas, The founder of PALAIS DES THÉS, who travels the world in search of the finest teas for the past 30 years, with in-depth knowledge of the tea regions and techniques, together with Mathias Minet, set up the Tea School to share their experiences at tea expertise in 1999. They are as well co-authors of Le Guide de dégustation de l’amateur de thé in 2007, and Tea Sommelier, Le thé en 160 leçons illustrées in 2016.
Japanese KUTANI teacup completes the whole cozy holiday scenario of the table. The term ‘kutani’ means ‘Nine Valleys’ 九谷, now a part of Kaga, Ishikawa, was first mentioned in 1655 during the MEIREKI ERA. The styles of the traditional Kutani were Aote 青手and Iroe 色絵, which hand-painted of dark green, mustard yellow, teal blue and deep purple. KUTANI production was closed down ciera 1730, the possible reasons may traced to the shortage supplies of the pigments, or the manufacturers’ financial difficulties. Therefore, the demand of the KUTANI is comparatively high at vintage market.
The white eggshell mini teacup I found this August at Helsinki secondhand store, 10 EUR each set, is decorated with pastel grey on the body and embossed with art deco styles of willows trees in snowy winter days. While pouring the Thé du Louvre, it is visible to view the mini branch pattern at the bottom of the teacup, and the saucer echoing the background, which makes the whole teatime chic and highly symbolic.
