On the banks of the Chao Phraya, the “river of kings”, the stalls are busy from dawn: steamed cakes, ripe fruit, spices of every kind. Paris-Bangkok is a memory of that walk, reinterpreted by Mariage Frères in a black tea with a sweet note, a colourful, indulgent fragrance, which belongs to its collection of teas dedicated to cities.

The composition combines tea, peony and rose petals, and flavouring; the blend may contain traces of nuts. The petals colour the dry leaf and announce a floral sweetness, which tempers the richness of the ripe fruit and the warmth of the spices. The black tea, for its part, provides a round, low-tannin base, designed to carry this bouquet.

It comes in a collector’s bottle with a double lid, containing 90 g of flavoured black tea. An object that finds its place on a shelf, and makes a fine gift for those who know Bangkok or dream of going there.

In the cup, the liquor is amber and round. Ripe, exotic fruit opens first, sweet and tropical, then a touch of gentle spice warms the palate, and the petals soften the finish. It is an afternoon tea, indulgent without being heavy, which can be drunk plain or with a cloud of milk. It goes with coconut rice pudding, fresh mango, spiced biscuits or a Thai dessert. Served iced, it keeps its sweetness and gains in freshness.

Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and five minutes of infusion. Once the bottle is opened, close it firmly after each use and keep it away from light, heat and strong odours, so that the fragrance of the fruit and spices stays intact.