La Dame du Lac

A tea as a celebration

At Betjeman and Barton, some teas are born as discreet, elegant, and sincere tributes. La Dame du Lac is one of them. Created for the tenth anniversary of our Geneva boutique, this fruity and luminous blend pays tribute to Véronique, an inspired founder, a Carouge native at heart and Breton by origin.

An echo between orchards and the Sardinian city

Thirty years ago, Véronique unpacked her bags, her dreams, and her love for taste on Rue Saint-Joseph, in the heart of Carouge, this small city with Italian airs, where one strolls among pastel facades, cobbled streets, and lively terraces. Carouge is not just a district: it is an atmosphere, a way of life. In this urban village imbued with craftsmanship and gentleness, tea has found its setting. It was there, in 1995, that the Betjeman and Barton boutique was born, carried by the generosity and grace of a young Breton woman who, cup after cup, managed to infuse Geneva with a profoundly human elegance.

La Dame du Lac, between presence and legend

This name, La Dame du Lac, says more than it tells. It evokes Véronique herself, a strong and luminous figure who watches over her boutique as one watches over a garden: with constancy, intuition, and that rare form of determination. Breton by birth, settled on the shores of Lake Geneva, she has become over the years our own Lady of the Lake, one who, like a lighthouse, illuminates palates in search of a fair, sincere, unforgettable tea.

But this name also carries an ancient breath, from the mists of Brocéliande. The Lady of the Lake, the one who, in Arthurian legends, entrusts Excalibur to Lancelot, embodies soft power, silent transmission, the tranquil force of enchantment. Between myth and presence, this tea weaves a double tribute: rooted in a land, carried by a legend.

The gourmet memory workshop

Composing La Dame du Lac was like painting a portrait in flavors, tracing a landscape of emotions, evoking the tender fruits of a childhood garden. In this tea, one finds the sparkle of Mirabelle plums from Lorraine, the rustic gourmet delight of wild strawberries (Véronique's favorite fruits), and the delicate velvety taste of a gently caramelized apple, like those prepared long ago in the kitchen of her beloved parents. Each note was conceived as a gesture, a memory, a hand extended to a loyal customer. This tea is a hand placed on a shoulder, a smile poured into a cup, in the image of the one who inspired its soul.

Tea and food pairings
This tea naturally pairs well with fruity sweets: a thin apple tart, a mirabelle plum madeleine, an almond financier, and fresh strawberries. The soft, lightly sweet textures reveal the depth of the Sencha and the delicacy of its aromas. It also wonderfully accompanies warm homemade applesauce or yellow fruit jelly, creating a light and poetic combination.

Tea-based recipes and cocktails
Cold-brewed, Dame du Lac becomes a refreshing and poetic drink. Add a few slices of apple, some fresh or dried mirabelle plums, a dash of light cane sugar syrup, and serve over ice with a verbena leaf.

For a cocktail version, make a Dame du Lac tea syrup, mix it with a white gin or a mild vodka, a hint of lime juice, and a touch of floral bitter. Serve in a chilled glass, garnished with a sprig of lemon thyme: a delicate, feminine, and enchanting composition.