From an herbalist that is steeped in 2 siecles of history, this modern tisanerie shop serves up healing and tasty teas and tisanes in the heart of Noailles.
Just around the corner from the Magrheb men sipping mint tea with their makrout in Noailles, a new kind of salon du thé has set up shop. A place where tea is more than a mere beverage, but an elixir that helps you heal as you imbibe. Just what you’d expect when a 200-yr old herbalist is the owner.
Maison Blaize sprouted from the mind of Dr. Cyril Coulard, the enthusiastic young pharmacist who has helmed Père Blaize since 2014. His tisanerie shop is the modern yin to the heritage yang across the street, a clean, contemporary space where you can leisurely browse rather than have to wait in line to be helped by a lime green-jacket clad pharmacist. If you have any questions though, you can always ask the affable shop manager, the mixologist-turned-tea crafter, Eliot Vincent.
Eliot and Cyril crossed paths at a Maison Ferroni (nb: the local distiller that Cyril collaborated with for their Elixir du suédois de Toussaint Blaize liqueur) soirée where they bonded over Eliot’s penchant for plant-based cocktails. The 20-year bar veteran, who helmed Le Petit Nice luxe bar for 10 years, mentioned he wanted a reconversion to spend nights with his kids. Crafting tisanes, instead of herbal cocktails, was a natural plan B. So he poured his mixing savvy into Maison Blaize’s exclusive 12-tisane gamme de dégustation.
Prettily packaged for gifts or personal enjoyment, the tisanes are named after Marseille’s landmarks and quartiers. There’s the anise-centric Chateau d’If – “like a pastis without the alcohol”, the Vieille Charité herbaceous pissenlit, lierre, and basilica combo, and the minty Notre Dame de la Garde., “Tout le monde s’y retrouve,” (“everyone finds something”) with this diverse lineup “parce que tout le monde n’a pas le même goût” (everyone doesn’t have the same taste) Equally apt for hot or cold brewing, they can be savored both ways at the shop or to fuel your shopping on rue d’Aubagne.
Customers can also find classic Père Blaize favorites like the thé detox made with bouleau (birch) From feuille d’aneth to poudre de thym, Maison Blaize’s wooden shelves stock spices, essential oils and the gélules for which Pere Blaize is beloved—the Bonneveine is ideal for improving blood circulation. If you want to take your plant-based care know-how further, pick up a book on phytotherapy (Nb: the use of plants for medicinal use.) Or you can drink it up with a glass of iced tea, ideal to beat this summer heat.
Le petit plus : In September, return to school with the beginning of their ateliers. Learn what is, and how to make, infused syrups, the correct way to brew tea, and many more.
Text : Alexis Steinmann
