Product type: Tea
Origin: France
Company: Dammann Frères
Website: www.dammann.fr / www.boutique-dammann.com
Year established: 1925
Background:

Dammann Frères is the largest and oldest company of French tea. The story dated back to 1692, when Sire Damame (Monsieur Dammann), Bourgeois de Paris was granted a royal award by King Louis XIV the exclusive right to "the privilege to sell, let sell and debit to the exclusion of all others, all coffees (...) tea, sorbets and chocolates” in France. That gives the exclusive rights for Monsieur Dammann to sell tea in France.

In 1825, the company Dammann & Derode was founded in India to facilitate the importation of tea to Batavia in the Dutch East Indies, Indonesia.

In 1925, the brothers Robert and Pierre Dammann established a trading based company called Dammann Frères in Paris, selling vanilla pods and loose tea to Madagascar; while their sister opened a tea bar in New York.

In 1932, Dammann Frères became the official supplier to the ships in the General Transatlantic Company, the French line – the prestigious ships that cruised all around the world. Their teas were now served at the edges of the prestigious France and Normandy.

In the 1950’s, Jean Jumeau-Lafond met the Dammann brothers and successfully introduces the sale of loose tea into the gourmet food shops. Jean took over the company in 1954, marking the turning point of Dammann Frères brand.

Jean started to introduce flavoured tea to the product line, influenced by his Russian wife who always added orange juice into his tea, he invented Russian tasted tea Goût Russe Douchka. At that time, Earl Grey tea was the only type of flavoured tea. In the 1960s, Dammann flavoured teas were with fruit blends such as the Christmas Tea and the oriental tea blend Candy Apple. There are 3,200 exclusive blends created by Dammann Frères ever since.

In 1975, Jean’s sons Jacques and Didier took over and developed the business. Didier Jumeau-Lafond, now at the head of the company, perpetuates the adventurous spirit and ingenious initiative of his father, developed the importation of green teas and helping the development of a revolutionary new tea bag.

In 1980, during a trip to Japan, Didier met with Dr Sano - the man who developed a nylon food for coffee consumption. Didier then used that discovery in tea tasting. Together they developed an alternative to the bag or muslin cotton, crystal and invented the Cristal® tea bags. This allows optimum development of the tea leaf and spreading its unparalleled flavour through touch, taste, sight and smell.

In 2005, Dammann Frères joined Gruppo illy and began to export their teas worldwide. In 2007, a tea shop in a former luxury hotel located in the sixteenth century number 15, Place des Vosges, 4e arrondissement¹ in Paris was opened. The second opening of the tea shop was 12e arrondissement in Paris in December 2011.

 

1. arrondissement – An administrative district of some large French cities. In Paris they are numbered from 1 to 20, starting from the premier (1er) in the old town centre (the Louvre) and progressing in a clockwise spiral to the final 20th arrondissement.

Where to enjoy in Malaysia:
Madisons: Jalan Bangkung, 59100 Bangsar. Tel: 03-2092-1222 Closed Sundays.
Humming Birds: No. 21 GF, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel : 03-2201 5889
Espressamente
Spazzio: C3.11.00, Level 3, Pavilion KL, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang  Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTel. : 03-2148 8388 / Lot A3-A4, KL City Walk Mall, 11 Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Tea Replublic

Local distributor:
Malaysia
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