Today I stopped by Kusmi Tea to do some christmas shopping. The Kousmichoff story: In 1867 they set up shoppe in St. Petersburg (where they supplied the czars of Russia with tea) and later moved here in 1917 – reckon the bolsheviks had something to do with that. Since then, they've nestled in the back of a small courtyard off a busy avenue in the 17th. A simple foyer with shelves holding over 20 different varieties of tea and a room with a cash register make this place remarkably low-key...considering the legacy.
You can find Kusmi teas in Montréal at “Folie en Vrac” on Mont-Royal, or at “La Vielle Europe” on St. Laurent. However, “La Vielle Europe” has samples to smell, and seeing as a tin of 125 g does cost the small fortune of $15 (luckily you only need about one teaspoon per pot) better to go there. "Anastasia" and "Troïka" blends are delightful.
