The Best of Tea

Some have said that the best tea in the world cannot be found in China, India, Japan, or England, but rather in the teashop of Mariage Freres in Paris. And while I would not venture to make such a bold statement, I will say that their Marco Polo, a black flavored tea, is magnificent.

The leaves are small, black, and tightly twisted. Their aroma is fruity and slightly reminiscent of fresh currants. I expected this might be overwhelming or even artificial tasting given the strength of their scent, but instead the flavor was well balanced and natural. In fact, the flavor of fruit is really secondary to the feeling of sweet creaminess in the mouth. It feels a bit like having just eaten a butterscotch candy. Even the color of the liquor reminds me of the candy.

For most people, it will likely not be bold enough as a breakfast tea, but as an afternoon or after dinner tea, it is superb. I would highly recommend this as an introductory tea to someone just beginning to explore the world of tea.

Marco Polo can be purchased directly from Mariage Freres online, or can be located in Williams Sonoma stores nationally.