France

In France, tea is considered inseparable from cakes and other sweets. Cake shops, known as "patisserie," will often provide a special corner for drinking tea while enjoying a cake or pastry. At tea salons, or "salons de the," customers will almost always take a "financier", "macaroon" or other confectionery with their tea. In comparison to regular cafes, salons de the are the places where fashionably dressed refined women will get together to enjoy a quiet afternoon of chatting. In addition to the charming, beautifully dressed patrons, salons de the are adorned with fine tableware from traditional makers such as Limoges, which means the women here can indulge themselves in luxury over a cup of tea. Of course, the French people also value tea for its health benefits. The most well-known for its healthy properties is herb tea. At one time herbs for such teas were even sold at pharmacies. In France, a cup of herb tea is commonly enjoyed after dinner, which is said to revive the body from the day's activities with its qualities to aid digestion as well as to calm both the mind and body.