A cup with beautiful chocolate nuances, powerful aromas that envelop the palate: Colombian Breakfast Chaï is a indulgent morning tea, which Mariage Frères drew from its collection of teas from Colombia, made up of teas, spices and fruits from that country. A new composition, the house says, for a delicious wake-up.

The base is a black tea from Colombia, crafted in the heart of the Andes on lands of great purity, watered by the clear water from the snow-capped peaks; sustainable farming methods allow the leaves time to develop their aromas. The ingredients are tea, cacao bean, coffee bean, cardamom, cinnamon and clove; the blend may contain traces of nuts. No flavouring is declared, and the house’s Jardin Premier label appears on this tea.

The liquor is dense and dark. The cacao opens, warm and deep; the coffee brings a roasted note that does not turn bitter; then the spices arrive, floral cardamom, gentle cinnamon, clove in the background. The Colombian black tea, malty and round, holds it all together with firm tannins.

Serve it in the morning, plain so that the tea remains perceptible, or in the manner of a chai, with warm milk and a little sugar for those who wish: the cup then takes on the richness of a spiced hot chocolate. It accompanies a brioche, pancakes or a walnut bread. Those torn between tea and coffee will find common ground here.

It is available loose leaf, weighed and packed to order in our shops in Bordeaux and Nice, from the 5 g sample to the kilo, in the 100 g iconic tin presented in its gift box, and in a box of 30 round cotton muslin tea sachets, totalling 75 g. The steeping parameters for each format are given on its product page. Store it apart from other teas.