A broken leaf, BOP grade, which infuses quickly and gives a clear, bold cup: Grand Bois Chéri is a black tea for the morning, in the full sense of the word. It comes from Mauritius, from the Bois Chéri estate, and Mariage Frères describes it in a few precise words: a particularly vanilla flavour, strong and fine. For the morning, the house specifies.

The BOP grade, Broken Orange Pekoe, denotes broken leaves, smaller than whole leaves, which release their colour and body more quickly. It is the grade of breakfast teas, the one that stands up to milk and holds its own against toast. The composition combines tea and flavouring; the blend may contain traces of nuts.

In the cup, the liquor is amber and round. The vanilla opens, sweet and warm, almost creamy, then the Mauritian black tea takes over, malty and vigorous, with firm tannins that give structure without harshness. The finish is long, vanilla-rich, and calls for a second cup. Those who love vanilla teas but find them often too light will find a version with character here.

It is drunk in the morning, plain for those who enjoy strength, or with a splash of milk, which suits it very well and brings out the vanilla. It accompanies a full breakfast, toast, porridge, brioche, pancakes, and also works for a winter afternoon snack, with shortbread or chocolate cake.

Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and only two minutes of infusion: the broken leaf releases quickly, and a longer time would make the cup bitter. Grand Bois Chéri is weighed and packed to order in our shops in Bordeaux and Nice, from the 5 g sample to the kilo, in a pouch designed to preserve its vanilla aroma.