By Glen Vaughn-Peterson
Excitement is brewing at Emilie’s French Teas in Waldo over the arrival of over 35 new French teas to their line, officially being debuted at their opening house on October 1st.
Located at 8131 Wornall Rd, Emilie’s has been serving the Waldo area by curating a high-quality tea experience for customers since 2017.
“Tea is as complex and as fascinating as wine,” says Emilie Jackson, a French native and the tea shop’s namesake.
The French tradition of tea is certainly as interesting as wine. In the 1600s, tea first came to France from China. In the production of tea in France, the difference between French tea and other types is how they finish the blends. “They use their expertise in culinary, essential oils, perfume, and wine to finish the blend,” says Emilie. Alex, Emilie’s husband, and Emilie also agree that French tea is generally smoother and sweeter than other teas. “We don’t use sweetener compared to some other brands. Some people use natural sweetener, but ours is a sweetness that comes from the blend itself and the different notes that come to it,” says Emilie.
The new varieties of tea Emilie’s is acquiring are from the French company Les Jardins de Gaïa. Created by Arlette Rohmer in 1994, Les Jardins de Gaïa is a market leader in organic and fair-trade teas, tisanes (herbal teas), and spices, offering a range of more than 740 products. In terms of the products Emilie’s carries in house, this new line will bring their total to more than 60 types of teas and tisanes.
Also sharing the space of, and complementing, Emilie’s Teas is Centered Spirit Cultural and Holistic Center, run by Alex, which prides itself on being an accepting holistic health center based around healing traditions from Central America, Europe, and Mexico. The combination of these two centers makes for a generally calming and, to some, enriching experience.