Marco Polo: the versions compared, to choose yours
By the LBDT Sommelier · published on · 4 min read
Reviewed and approved by the La Boutique du Thé team
Marco Polo is a fragrance before it is a tea: fruit and flowers, laid by Mariage Frères on a black tea originally, then extended to green tea, white tea, oolong and rooibos. The classic Marco Polo at €13 per 100 g remains the right choice for a first time; the other versions change the base, the caffeine or the intensity, and this guide tells you which one suits which mood.
What Marco Polo is
Created by Mariage Frères in tribute to the Venetian traveller, Marco Polo is a black tea from China scented with fruit and flowers. Its recipe is not published; what you perceive in the cup is an amber, rounded liquor, with a note reminiscent of strawberry, vanilla and flowers. It is the best-known Mariage Frères tea, and the one our advisers in Bordeaux and Nice suggest for a first time.
The same fragrance now exists in nine versions, on five bases: black, green, oolong and white tea, and rooibos. The choice is therefore made less on taste, very similar from one version to another, than on the base: caffeine, colour of the liquor, time of day.
The nine loose leaf Marco Polo teas
| Version | Base | Caffeine | Preparation | 100 g | Choose if |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Polo | Black tea | Moderate | 95 °C · 5 min | €13.00 | It is your first Marco Polo |
| Marco Polo Noir Sublime | Black tea, large leaf | Moderate | 95 °C · 5 min | €19.00 | You want more depth and a fine leaf |
| Thé Vert Marco Polo | Green tea | Low | 95 °C · 3 min | €13.00 | You prefer a lighter cup, in the afternoon |
| Marco Polo Vert Sublime | Green tea, large leaf | Low | 95 °C · 3 min | €20.00 | Same idea as the Noir Sublime, on a green base |
| Marco Polo Blue | Oolong tea | Low | 95 °C · 5 min | €20.00 | You enjoy golden, velvety liquors |
| Marco Polo Blue Sublime | Oolong, large leaf | Low | 95 °C · 5 min | €24.00 | The silkiest of the range |
| Thé Blanc Marco Polo | White tea | Low | 85 °C · 7 min | €23.00 | You want the most delicate version |
| Marco Polo Rouge | Rooibos | Naturally caffeine-free | 95 °C · 5 min | €13.00 | In the evening, or for children |
| Marco Polo Rouge Sublime | Rooibos | Naturally caffeine-free | 95 °C · 5 min | €19.00 | In the evening, fruitier |
All are available as 5 g samples, from €0.65 to €1.20, so you can compare two versions side by side before buying 100 g. Standard measure: 2.5 g per 200 ml.
Cotton muslins and tins: the same teas, another way
Marco Polo, Marco Polo Noir Sublime, Thé Vert Marco Polo, Marco Polo Blue and Marco Polo Rouge come in boxes of 30 cotton muslin tea sachets (from €20 to €25 depending on the version): the same tea, in individual sachets, handy at the office or when travelling. The 100 g tea tin (from €19 to €30) is the gift format, and can then be reused to store loose leaf tea.
Marco Polo Rhapsody (€25) is a box of 30 cotton muslin sachets on Pai Mu Tan white tea: the gentlest version of the fragrance, in sachets.
Around Marco Polo: jelly, chocolate, gift sets
The Marco Polo extra tea jelly is spread on brioche or served with fresh cheese; the Marco Polo tea chocolate (€19 for 120 g) pairs a milk chocolate coating with a ganache flavoured with Marco Polo tea. As a gift, the Coffret Connaisseur Marco Polo (€39) brings together the tea and its jelly, the Coffret Marco Polo & Noël (€55) pairs Marco Polo with the Christmas tea, and Marco Polo Fruit Tea (€52 for the 150 g gift set) is a fruit infusion with the house fragrance.
Our preparation tips
- Water: simmering, 95 °C, for the black, oolong, green and rooibos versions; 85 °C for the white tea. A temperature-controlled kettle avoids scalding the white version.
- Time: 5 minutes for the black, oolong and rooibos, 3 minutes for the green, 7 minutes for the white. Beyond that, the black becomes heavy with tannins and the fragrance fades.
- Iced: every version lends itself to cold brewing, 10 g per litre of cold water, 6 to 12 hours in the fridge. Marco Polo Rouge and Thé Vert make the best carafes.
- Storage: closed tea tin, away from light and cooking smells. A scented tea loses its fragrance before it loses its taste.
The sommelier's selection
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Marco Polo and Marco Polo Sublime?
Same flavour, larger and finer leaf, deeper liquor. Le Sublime costs €19 per 100 g compared with €13. If you drink Marco Polo every day, the classic is enough; Le Sublime is the choice for weekends and gifts.
Does Marco Polo contain caffeine?
Yes for the black, green, blue and white versions, to varying degrees: moderate for the black, low for the others. Marco Polo Rouge, made with rooibos, contains none.
Which Marco Polo for the evening?
Marco Polo Rouge or Rouge Sublime, both on a rooibos base, naturally caffeine-free, 5 minutes at 95 °C.
Can Marco Polo be drunk iced?
Yes. Steep 10 g per litre of cold water for 6 to 12 hours in the fridge, then strain. Thé Vert Marco Polo and Marco Polo Rouge are the most successful this way.
What is the price of Marco Polo per kilo?
€117 per kilo for classic Marco Polo loose leaf, or €11.70 per 100 g instead of €13; the 10% discount applies from 1 kg of the same tea.
To go further
Written by the LBDT Sommelier, La Boutique du Thé, official Mariage Frères stockist in Bordeaux and Nice since 1999. Published on 15 October 2026. Prices as observed on the date of publication; the price shown on the product page prevails.
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