Palais des Thés, a team driven by passion
François-Xavier Delmas
Our founder, François-Xavier Delmas, travels the world in search of the finest teas. For thirty years, he has spent his time exploring tea gardens and plantations and maintaining close ties with tea farmers and producers. This has allowed him to gain in-depth knowledge of the regions, soils, and cultivation techniques, as well as to forge close relationships with all those who dedicate themselves daily to producing the finest teas.
Mathias Minet
Mathias Minet joined Palais des Thés in the late 1990s, working alongside François-Xavier Delmas. Together, they helped the company grow and made tea more widely available. In 1999, they founded the Tea School, where they share their expertise and experience as tea tasters. They are the authors of two books dedicated to tea: *Le Guide de dégustation de l'amateur de thé* (Edition du Chêne, 2007), which has been considered the standard work for tea connoisseurs for the past ten years, and the more recent *Tea Sommelier: Le thé en 160 leçons illustrées* (Edition du Chêne, 2016).
For the past 20 years, Mathias has been responsible for our company’s scented tea creations. He is the creator of such iconic blends as Thé du Hammam, Blue of London, and Vive le thé!
The Tea Sommeliers
They are true experts in the art of tea appreciation: our tea sommeliers. Their mission is to share their knowledge and passion. You’ll encounter them every day in our boutiques, where they oversee the diverse range of flavors and ensure that every tea is presented at its best. These specialists in the delightful pairing of tea and food are consulted by chefs at the finest restaurants and their sommeliers.
