On the tin, the word “thé” is calligraphed in Tibetan. Tibet, Thé des Prières, belongs to the “Les Calligraphies du Thé” collection from Mariage Frères, in which each tea bears its name in the script of the country it evokes. It is presented in a lacquered, screen-printed metal tin containing 100 g of scented black tea.

In the gilded monasteries of the roof of the world, the house tells us, monks accompany their meditation with a tea scented with plants, spices, flowers and secret fruits. The ingredients list mentions tea, vanilla, lavender and flavouring; the blend may contain traces of nuts. It is listed in the catalogue under the Jardin Premier label.

The liquor is amber and round. The vanilla opens, sweet and slightly woody; the lavender brings a floral, faintly camphorous note that gives the blend its mountain character; the mild spices and the fruits noted in our catalogue come through in the finish, discreetly, and the black tea holds everything together with supple tannins. A contemplative cup, in the words of our product sheet, indulgent without sugar.

It is an afternoon tea, a slow moment, to be drunk plain or with a cloud of milk that brings out the vanilla. It accompanies an almond cake, honey biscuits, gingerbread, or is enjoyed alone, at the hour when the light fades.

Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and five minutes of steeping. Once the tin is opened, close it again after each use and keep it away from light and odours; the calligraphed tin, however, stays on the shelf long after the tea is gone.