In the cup, the almond sings first, round and festive, then the bergamot joins it with its zesty accents: this is how Mariage Frères describes Christmas Song, a indulgent black tea from its Christmas collection, velvety and enveloping, “comforting like a family Christmas”.

The declared composition combines tea, almond and flavouring. Almond is an allergen present as an ingredient, and the blend may contain traces of other nuts. Caffeine is moderate. The tea is presented in a miniature, a container from the Christmas collection that you keep once empty.

The liquor is round, velvety, a warm amber. The almond gives a pastry-like sweetness, almost marzipan, which the bergamot lights with a fresh, slightly bitter citrus note, in the spirit of a festive Earl Grey. The black tea holds the whole together, with a supple structure and a long, gentle finish. This is not a spiced tea: the warmth comes from the almond, not the cinnamon.

It is drunk in the afternoon, during the festivities and after, with almond shortbread, a galette, stollen or orange biscuits. Plain, it is elegant; with a cloud of milk, it becomes a very gentle afternoon tea. It also suits lovers of Earl Grey who want a more indulgent version for December.

Allow 2.5 g of leaves for 200 ml of water at 95 °C and five minutes of infusion. La Boutique du Thé, official stockist of Mariage Frères since 1999, offers you Christmas Song in its shops in Bordeaux and Nice, in season; keep the miniature closed, dry and away from light and odours.