The name says it all: this herbal blend from the Berlin manufactory Paper & Tea should lull a little at the end of a day, relax and prepare for sleep. And it does just that with lemon verbena, lime blossom, lemongrass, chamomile, nettle, citrus peel, rose petals and hop cones. The infusion is fragrant, of apple blossom, honey, grapefruit and roses.

Nothing happens by chance, not even a business address. Paper & Tea’s adress is Bleibtreustraße (i. e. Stay True Street) in Berlin Charlottenburg. It’s a good address; however, one can’t help thinking of it as a symbolic synopsis of the meticulousness, perseverance and attention to detail Paper & Tea’s founder and owner Jens de Gruyter exudes when talking about his passion: tea. The well-travelled, thoughtful man grew up in Canada and devoted quite some time to professional photography. Then he came into contact with tea through his uncle, who gave up the coffee trade and switched to tea in the 1970s-80s. De Gruyter picked up on this with personal interest. Wheresoever he went, tea was in his focus. In 2009 he became convinced to make a profession out of his enthusiasm for tea and his vocation for uncovering even the most delicate nuances of tea aromas. So he spared no expense and effort: He repeatedly travelled to the classic tea countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand and visited – accompanied by interpreters – local tea farmers who still work on family-sized farms. His perseverance bore fruit when Paper & Tea opened by the end of 2012. Meanwhile, you find exceptional black and green teas by P&T; plus, De Gruyter mixes specific blends of herbal teas. In its distinguished design and subtle details, the on-site shop reflects its owner’s approach when talking about tea with all his love and in hushed tones: instructive but not intrusive, immediately sensorial appealing. Certainly, Paper & Tea has a unique position in the Berlin manufactory scene. But apart from this, de Gruyter has another argument in favour of tea: Over and above the immediate relish a cup of tea adds to busy everyday life, drinking tea is – to the core – a sensual experience. What’s more, it can bolster mindfulness by contributing to personal rituals and helping chance along for analogue, interpersonal communication, and encounter.

Sales Description:

Flavoured organic herbal tea blend

Ingredients:

Lemon verbena*, linden blossoms*, lemongrass*, chamomile blossoms*, nettle leaves*, citrus peel*, rose petals*, hop blossoms*, natural flavour (* from organic farming)

Storage and Preparation Instructions:

Use 1.5 tsp. for 250 ml of water. Optimal preparation at 100 °C, steeping time is 2 minutes. The tea allows for a second infusion.

Origin / Provenance:

Germany

Inspection Board for Organic Farming:

DE-ÖKO-005

Responsible Food Business Operator (RFBO):

P & T – Paper & Tea GmbH
Kantstr. 31
10625 Berlin Germany