100g Le Marche (Market) Spice, Black Tea
An excellent spice tea tending cinnamon hot with delicious fruit notes.
Luxury Ingredients: Black tea, Cinnamon, Orange pieces, Natural flavors(organic compliant)
Small Batch Blended and Packed in: Canada
Tea(s) From: Sri Lanka / Kenya / India / Thailand / Turkey
Region(s): Nuwara Eliya + Dimbula + Uva / Nandi Highlands / Nilgiri / Petchabun / Anatolya
Antioxidant Level: High
Caffeine Content: Medium
If you've never been to the grand Bazaar at Marrakesh, you'll feel like you have once you brew a pot of this delightful tea. The tantalizing blend of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and orange will delight your senses and make you feel as though you yourself had wandered the market stalls browsing and haggling over spice prices. The blend was originally conceived by the French Governor of Marrakesh at the height of the French empire - hence the French name, Le Marché. He served the tea to the foreign dignitaries who would regularly visit his residence which was situated just a short walk from the Bazaar. He loved the combination of spices for its ability to cool the body down in the sultry Moroccan climate and the way it blended with the sweet oranges the country is famous for. Sadly for Monsieur le Gouverneur, the French lost their seat in old Morocco. Happily for the world in general however, they left behind the recipe for this spicy blend. Pour yourself a cup today mon ami and dream of Africa - North Africa that is.
What type of tea do we use, how do we flavor the tea and why do we use natural flavors?
Firstly... we only use high grown teas from the top 3 tea growing regions of Sri Lanka - Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva. These three high-grown districts produce flavorful teas that have classic 'Ceylon' tea character which is noted by floral bouquet and flavor notes, touches of mild astringency, bright coppery color and, most importantly - perfect for use as the base tea of our flavored teas. (We have tested teas from various other origins around the world as base stock for our flavored teas, but none of these teas made the grade.) Dimbula and the western estates of Nuwara Eliya have a major quality peak during Jan/Feb, whereas Uva and the eastern estates of Nuwara Eliya have their peak in July/Aug. This 'dual peak period' allow us to buy the best for our flavored tea blends several times during the year, ensuring top quality and freshness.
Secondly... we use flavoring oils not crystals to give the tea drinker an olfactory holiday before indulging in a liquid tea treat.
Thirdly. we specify natural flavors. High quality tea tastes good and natural flavors do not mask the natural taste of the high grown Ceylon tea. (The norm for many making flavored tea is to use overpowering artificial flavors, which can be used to hide lower quality tea). Natural flavors do not leave an aftertaste giving the tea a clean and true character. It should be noted that natural flavors tend to be somewhat 'soft ' and the flavors slightly muted, but for many this is a refreshing change and one of the desired attributes of our naturally flavored teas.