The Urban Tea Merchant - Vancouver, BC

Macaron Mania Part 2!

The macaron madness continues here at The Urban Tea Merchant, mostly known for their teas and Afternoon Tea service. However, the UTM also has a small selection of macarons so the Piglets had to give it a try.

On this particular rainy Saturday, I walked in wearing sweats, probably smelling a bit funny having arrived straight from cardio kickboxing, and went right to their small display of macarons. I was immediately attended to and a manager (I think) was alerted who told me that their macarons are infused with the TWG tea available in store and the chef responsible was trained in France, which makes their macarons extra special. Sold? Totally.  Let's continue this macaron typhoon!

Not very nice packaging... you might want to repackage if you're going to hand it to your sweetie.

It was very difficult to choose any favorites since all of the macarons were VERY good. Of all the macarons we've tried thus far, these packed the most flavor and the cookie texture was most agreeable, a fine balance between light crunch on the outside and firm texture on the inside. The filling was a bit more of a jam consistency rather than ganache-like, which may throw off some macaron aficionados but the Piggies enjoyed it as it wasn't sticky and still quite light. Although these are medium-sized in comparison to others, there is so much flavor you could turn these into 2-3 small bites. After much discussion, we decided the following should be given honorable mentions (descriptions of the tea are given):

1837 Black

Unique blend of black tea with fruits and flowers from the Bermuda triangle which leaves a lingering aftertaste of ripe berries, anise and caramel

Grand Wedding

Black tea is blended with white flowers and breathtaking exotic fruits

The only one that kind of threw us off was the Moroccan Mint - reminded us a bit of toothpaste but if you enjoy peppermint, this is the one for you as this is packed with peppermint flavor.


Overall, although the macarons from The Urban Tea Merchant were the most expensive by far, they also packed the hardest punch in terms of flavor and texture. If you want something special for that special someone, these are the perfect little snack if you can find a nice box to present them in. If the macarons here are a representation of what the UTM can offer, the Piglets will absolutely be back to try their other wares (i.e. various Afternoon Tea services). Bon appetite!


Pros:

• Robust flavors
• Friendly, knowledgeable service
• Wide range of TWG teas available
• Lovely sitting area if you wished to be seated

Cons:

• On the pricier side - $4 per macaron
• Street parking is quite difficult
• Plain packaging
• Limited flavors