We were staying at quite a lovely hotel, Lutetia, in Paris, and each morning I had a Japanese tetsubin pot of Ceylon or Darjeeling. The water was freshly boiled, and the tea was lovely if bagged. I saw no Assam in Paris this trip.

I also had lovely tea -- Mariage Freres -- at Georges in the Pompidou Center. But I had tea every day after lunch, and I only recall one cup that wasn't good.

Normally I am a milk and sugar, strong Assam kind of woman. In Paris, I went with the flow. I also had a cold most of the ten days we were there in May, so the lighter brews worked well for me.