Tea Travels: London and Paris

Hi, I’m Anna! I am the Business Systems Analyst at Tea Collection. I really enjoys café culture and exploring how different cultures approach it. One of my favorite activities is café hopping! Other than drinking large amounts of coffee, I also enjoys going to art museums to see paintings, horseback riding, and eating desserts!

LONDON

I did not have any expectations when traveling to London but I definitely really enjoyed my stay. The city was beautiful. I really enjoyed walking around to appreciate the old architecture. My favorite parts were discovering random alleyways that were unique and charming.

Britain is one of the world’s largest tea consumers and I can see why! I visited many tea shops and noticed extensive tea menus in restaurants/cafes. I made sure to experience afternoon tea multiple times during my stay.

I was really impressed with London’s metro system and how easy it was to get around the city without a car. It was also very easy to book a train to Paris which was my next stop.

Suggestions:

– Kova for mille crepe cakes! (Especially the matcha one)

– Afternoon tea at The Beaumont hotel for a romantic and delicious experience with live piano

PARIS

I learned so much in my short stay in Paris. I stayed in Le Marais area which is known for its cobblestone streets, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. It was a really nice area to stay in for someone who loves fashion!

I visited the typical touristy spots such as the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles, and various museums. The city architecture is amazing and beautiful.

Long lunch breaks are well known in French culture. The French really take their time to enjoy their food and coffee. When you are done, you just ask for the bill. I appreciated this during my time in Paris.

I also learned that San Francisco is called “the Paris of the Pacific” because tens of thousands of French people came to SF during the California Gold Rush. Very cool!