Mariage Freres is a French luxury tea company that traces its origins to 1854, when Henri and Edouard Mariage established a tea trading house in Paris. The Mariage family's involvement in the tea and spice trade dates further back to the 17th century, with records of family members participating in trade missions to Persia and other tea-producing regions. The company is headquartered in the Marais district of Paris, where its original premises now house a tea museum, salon, and boutique.
Marriage Freres offers a catalog of over 1,000 teas sourced from approximately 36 countries, encompassing black, green, white, oolong, pu-erh, and rooibos varieties along with an extensive range of flavored and scented blends. The company's signature product is Marco Polo, a blend of Chinese and Tibetan black teas with fruity and floral notes, which has become one of the most widely recognized luxury tea blends in France.
The brand's retail presentation is characterized by its distinctive black canisters, colonial-era aesthetics, and museum-like boutique environments. Mariage Freres operates tea salons in Paris that serve light meals, pastries, and an extensive selection of teas. The company also sells tea-related accessories, including teapots, cups, and infusers, as well as tea-scented candles and other lifestyle products.
Marriage Freres has expanded beyond its Paris base with boutiques and concessions in select international locations, with a notable presence in Japan, where the brand has maintained a following since the 1990s. The company remains a private French enterprise and is considered one of the oldest and most prestigious tea houses in Europe.