Few capture that spirit quite like French illustrator and graphic designer Guillaume Denaud, better known by his artistic moniker Dans Les Dents. Known for his bold graphic style, colourful illustrations and unmistakable sense of humour, he creates dreamlike worlds filled with quirky characters, unexpected encounters and a uniquely French sense of charm.

For Tea to Take You Places, an exclusive collection by T2 that brings together artists, locations and signature teas, Dans Les Dents has created the design for French Earl Grey, bringing his imaginative vision to the culture, character and joie de vivre of Southern France.

Much of that vision traces back to one city: Marseille. "The energy of the city influences ourselves," he says. "It's a very vibrant, energetic city, a daily inspiration just walking in the streets." He first arrived twenty years ago as a street art devotee, and a friend took him to Le Cours Julien, its walls layered with graffiti and colour. "Wow, this is so beautiful," he remembers thinking. "For me, it was a magical place." Nearby sits Café Zitoune, home to what he calls the best cookie in Marseille, with one of his own illustrations painted on the wall out front.

Rather than simply illustrating a place, Dans Les Dents brings Southern France to life through the personalities and moments that make it unforgettable. A comedic croissant, a curious Chat Noir, a stylish poodle and an animated lemon take centre stage, creating a world filled with humour, warmth and character. Each figure adds another layer to the story, transforming familiar French symbols into unexpected companions.

Threaded throughout the artwork are recognisable elements of French life: the Métro, architecture, bustling streets, alongside the coastal rhythm he knows best: the walk along the Corniche to Malmousque, a swim off the rocks, sunset over the calanques. "So peaceful," he says. "And that's important for me." Reinterpreted through his distinctive visual language, these references become part of a colourful universe where reality and imagination meet.

Paired with T2’s French Earl Grey, a fruity, medium-bodied blend with pretty petals and fruity notes that play with classic bergamot, it creates a moment of escape, inviting you to experience a little piece of Southern France wherever you are.