Cha Yuan
7 and 9 rue des Remparts d’Ainay
69002 Lyon
cha-yuan.com • +33 4 72 41 04 60
If you are a tea expert, then this is deffinitely the place you will enjoy shopping for tea leaves. Cha Yuan was founded in the nineties by Nadia Bécaud, and there are now four shops in France, two of them in Lyon (the other one located in the 6th district). Cha means tea, and Yuan means garden. This term is used to designate a tea field, actually. Yuan can also mean—if you write it differently in Chinese— origin. The brand really has a strong philosophy about tea, and Nadia selects teas from the best suppliers in Asia, traveling herself to Japan and China to make sure she gets the best quality and that the tradition is respected.
In Nadia’s shop, huge red metal cannisters line the long wall, making for quite an impressive sight. Cha Yuan sells 250 different teas, but don’t worry—the staff will guide you in making your selections. Some of their best-selling creations might be tempting: “Envol de fleurs” (Flight of Flowers), a blend of green and white teas, rose, and other flowers; as well as “Forêt du lion” (Lion Forest), a black tea perfumed with citrus fruit, apple, peppercorns, and other spices. Each month, there is a promotional sale on some of the teas. Furthermore, the shop sells tea accessories as well—teapots made of porcelain, glass, Yixing clay, and cast iron, plus much more.
