The pu-er tea is a gift from a friend in Dali, Yunnan, thoughtfully packaged for export to France — the label entirely in French.
The Baumkuchen comes from Japan. Originally a German tea cake, it has undergone the kind of careful refinement that the Japanese bring to even the simplest things.
The earthy groundedness of pu-er, paired with the gentle sweetness and delicate layers of Baumkuchen, makes for a quietly perfect afternoon tea.
Sometimes wellbeing is nothing more than this: beautiful things, thoughtful gifts from friends, and a moment of stillness in the day.