The taste of childhood, says the house: Mousse au Chocolat is a black tea with the flavour of the dessert of the same name, a mischievous and indulgent creation from the Héritage Gourmand collection by Mariage Frères, housed in a collector’s tin in dark chocolate brown with silver highlights, containing 100 g.

The ingredients are black tea, chocolate flakes, cocoa nibs and flavouring. The blend may contain traces of milk, lactose and nuts, which those concerned will wish to note. The house file classifies it among its Jardins Premiers. The chocolate flakes and cocoa pieces are visible in the black leaf.

The liquor is amber and round. The cocoa comes first, intense, with that gentle bitterness of a good mousse; the chocolate brings creaminess; and the malty black tea supports the whole with a structure that keeps the cup from becoming syrupy. The finish is cocoa-rich and enveloping, with no apparent sugar.

It is an afternoon tea, a teatime tea and a winter evening tea. It is drunk plain, or with a cloud of milk that brings it even closer to the dessert, and accompanies a madeleine, a shortbread biscuit, dried fruit, or serves as a treat in itself. It is very popular with children, with a little warm milk. Iced, it pleasantly surprises with vanilla ice cream.

Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95°C and five minutes of infusion. Once opened, the metal tin should be kept closed, dry and away from light. La Boutique du Thé, official stockist of Mariage Frères since 1999, offers it in its shops in Bordeaux and Nice.