All the magic of an Alsace Christmas wrapped up in our recipes…

In Alsace, Christmas is sacred! Its “magic” has influenced many of our recipes which show off all our savoir-faire.

In our region, the use of spices in cooking and baking is a well-established tradition. You only have to take a stroll through one of the many Christmas markets to find yourself succumbing to the temptation of a mulled wine with spices or the scent of the famous bredele (Alsace cookies), which is enough to grab the attention of any self-respecting gourmet.

Dried fruits, little pieces of apple, cinnamon and cloves, where do these culinary riches come from and how do we recreate them our teas and spice blends?

Bringing out the flavours, it’s a real art!

For each Christmas recipe, we wanted to stay as close as possible to nature and all its benefits.

Our organic teas, rooibos and herbal teas are flavoured with natural organic flavours and processed on our premises in Alsace. Whether it be fruit, flowers, spices or essential oils: the quality and range of ingredients are chosen to accompany the flavour of the tea while letting it express itself.

Our compositions are embellished with flower petals, small pieces of dried fruit, and lots of little details, so that the Christmas recipe is as much a pleasure for the eye as it is for the palate.

In terms of spices, our ready-to-use mixes make it easy for you to bake your own gingerbread, and other pastries and make your own mulled wine.

The Christmas tree and Christmas markets at the heart of the traditions

 The Christmas tradition is deeply rooted in our local heritage.

It was in 1570, in Strasbourg, that the first Christkindelsmärik (market of the Infant Jesus) was held. The city then became the historic cradle of Christmas markets in France. It was in Sélestat, in 1521, a few kilometres from the headquarters of our company, that Christmas trees were mentioned for the first time…

The fir tree was at that time considered a tree of paradise on which red apples were hung to symbolise the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Cinnamon stars, aniseed crisps, spicy and tasty specialties

The Christmas period in Alsace is also synonymous with festive cooking. Many specialties are produced during this period.

Tradition dictates that the ingredients used for various Christmas baking – bredele (Christmas cookies), beerawecka (dried fruit and spice cakes), gingerbread, etc – are prepared well in advance. Apples from the orchard dried after the harvest, walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds patiently peeled and crushed during the autumn evenings, the selection of candied fruits and numerous spices that will be used (cinnamon, ginger, coriander, anise, cardamom, cloves, etc.): everything must be ready to start baking during the Advent period. As the candles of the Advent wreath are lit and Christmas approaches, the excitement is palpable in people’s homes and especially among children.

The Christmas festivities are getting closer and while the cold of winter sets in, we nourish ourselves inside with the magic of this luminous, warm, gourmet period…

People make all kinds of cakes, including the famous cinnamon stars and aniseed crisps, which you can enjoy with mulled wine, or you can have the pleasure of giving as a gift.

Ideally you would finish making the cakes a few days before Christmas so that they have time to dry in their special, beautifully decorated tin. They improve over time. Though apparently in some families, it is not uncommon for the cakes never to be left long enough to dry…

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

With our Christmas range, we wanted to capture a little bit of this spirit that we remember from our childhood and incorporate it into recipes that we really love…

Our Christmas Tea for example, with its orange blend and spices instantly evokes the warm magic that we love to share.

Another delicious recipe to drink together, Familly Christmas, is a blend based on rooibos (theine-free), a firm favourite with all ages with its delicious fruity aromas of prune and mirabelle plum.

For those who love original flavours, we have created Sunshine in the snow (voted Best Organic Product of the Year 2022). This recipe combines the delicacy of white tea with the warm and luminous flavours of tonka bean and citrus. Irresistible!

Fall in love with our new packaging specially designed for this magical time of year: our new metal tin is an exclusive Les Jardins de Gaïa design, it is made in France, eco-responsible, reusable and recyclable, and as always our teas are created and packaged in Alsace in our workshops!

Check out our entire range and its delicious surprises on our website for Christmas gifts or to treat yourself, for some unforgettable moments over a nice cup of tea!