In June 2014, during her official visit to Paris, Queen Elizabeth II received from the Mayor of Paris three teas created by Mariage Frères for the City, one for the morning, one for the afternoon, one for the evening. Matin Parisien is the first of the three: a luminous, elegant and sweet black tea, designed, the house says, to watch the City of Light wake up.

Its construction is distinctive. The base is a black tea of beautiful whole leaves, dotted with golden buds that give it body and roundness; a touch of green tea enriched with citrus comes to lift it, with zesty notes of mandarin and orange preserve. The declared composition is tea and flavouring, with possible traces of nuts.

The liquor is amber and bracing. The citrus arrives first, sparkling, candied rather than fresh; the black tea then establishes its roundness and structure, while the green tea, in the background, lightens the whole. The finish is clean, with the memory of marmalade on toast: a Parisian-style breakfast, less harsh than an English breakfast.

It is drunk in the morning, plain to keep the clarity of the citrus, or with a cloud of milk, with pastries, buttered toast, orange jam or French toast. It also suits brunch and, infused then chilled, makes a pleasant iced tea at midday.

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 a bag designed to preserve its aromas, and in an airtight, crimp-sealed black metal tin of 100 g, presented in its gift box. Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and five minutes’ steeping. Keep it closed, away from light and odours.