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All the magic of Alsace in our Christmas teas

Publish on 11.08.2024 by Gaia Gardens

Christmas is sacred in Alsace! Its "magic" has influenced many of our recipes, in which you'll find all our expertise.

The use of spices in cooking and pastry-making is a deeply rooted tradition in our region. A stroll through one of the many Christmas markets is enough to tempt any self-respecting gourmand with a glass of spiced mulled wine or the aroma of the famous bredele (Alsatian petit fours).

Dried fruit, apple bits, cinnamon, cloves: where does this culinary richness come from, and how do we recreate it in our teas and spice blends?

Revealing the flavors of Christmas is an art!

For each Christmas recipe, we aim to be as close as possible to nature and its benefits.

Our organically grown teas, rooibos and herbal teas are flavored with natural organic aromas and processed on our premises in Alsace. Fruits, flowers, spices, essential oils: the quality and choice of ingredients are decisive in accompanying the taste of the tea while letting it express itself.

Our compositions are embellished with flower petals, bits of dried fruit, and many other small details, so that the Christmas creation is as much a pleasure for the palate as for the eyes.

As for spices, our ready-to-use mixes make it easy to create gingerbread, mulled wine and a variety of pastries.

Christmas tree and Christmas markets at the heart of tradition

Christmas tradition is deeply rooted in our local heritage.

The first Christkindelsmärik (Christ Child Market) was held in Strasbourg in 1570. The city became the historic birthplace of Christmas markets in France. It was in Sélestat in 1521, a few kilometers from our company headquarters, that the Christmas tree was first mentioned..

At the time, the fir tree was considered a tree of paradise, from which red apples were hung to symbolize Adam and Eve's fall from paradise.

Cinnamon stars and aniseed crunchies: spicy, tasty specialties served with a delicious Christmas tea

The Christmas season in Alsace is also synonymous with culinary delights. Many specialities are made during this period.

Tradition dictates that the ingredients for the various Christmas cakes are prepared well in advance: bredele (dried cakes), beerawecka (dried fruit and spice loaves), gingerbread... Orchard apples dried after the harvest, walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds patiently shelled and crushed during the autumn evenings, selection of candied fruits and the many spices to be used (cinnamon, ginger, coriander, aniseed, cardamom, cloves...): everything must be ready to begin confection during the Advent period. As the candles of the Advent wreath are lit and the days draw closer to Christmas, the excitement is palpable in the home, especially among children.

Christmas festivities are just around the corner, and while the cold of winter sets in, we're feeding our inner selves on the magic of this bright, warm and gourmet season..

All kinds of cakes are baked, including the famous cinnamon stars and aniseed crunchies, which can be enjoyed with mulled wine, or given as gifts.

Ideally, you should finish making the cakes a few days before Christmas, so that they have time to dry in their dedicated, beautifully decorated boxes. They'll taste even better. But it seems that in some families, it's not uncommon for the cakes to never really have time to dry.

Let yourself be seduced by our delicious recipes for Christmas teas, rooibos and herbal teas

With our Christmas range, we've captured a little of the spirit of our childhood, and incorporated it into recipes that are very close to our hearts..

Our Christmas Tea, for example, with its black tea base and combination of orange and spices, instantly evokes the warm magic we love to share.

Another gourmet sharing experience, Noël en famille, a recipe based on rooibos (caffeine-free), is unanimously appreciated by young and old alike, with its delicious fruity aromas of prune and mirabelle plum.

For lovers of originality, we've created Neige au soleil (voted Best Organic Product of the Year 2022). This recipe combines the delicacy of white tea with the warm, luminous flavors of tonka bean and citrus. Irresistible!

You'll love our packaging, specially designed for this magical time of year: our metal tin is an exclusive Les Jardins de Gaïa creation, it's eco-responsible, reusable and recyclable, and as always, our teas are created and packaged in Alsace in our workshops!

Discover our full range of Christmas teas and infusions and their gourmet nuggets on our website, to give or to treat yourself to an unforgettable cup of tea!