Five teas and a measuring spoon: the Nocturne Oriental gift set brings together, under one lid, a selection of five Mariage Frères teas chosen around the theme of the Orient, along with the utensil for measuring them. It is an introductory set as much as a gift, designed for anyone who wants to explore several of the house's cups without committing to just one.

We do not detail the exact composition of the selection here: the five teas are named on the set, with their family, their steeping parameters, their full ingredients list and the allergen information, which we invite you to consult. The common thread is the Orient as the house understands it, that of Chinese teas and the fragrances of spices, flowers and citrus that built its reputation.

The measuring spoon deserves a word. Measuring the tea is the step beginners neglect most, and it shapes the cup: too few leaves give a hollow liquor, too many a bitter cup. A measure lets you take the same quantity each time, and then adjust to your taste, black tea being measured lighter than oolong or white tea.

The set lends itself to a comparative tasting: steep two teas side by side, using the indicated parameters, and compare the colour of the liquors, the aroma, the length. This is the best way to learn what you like. It makes a year-end gift, a housewarming or birthday present, and keeps its teas closed, away from light and odours.

The Nocturne Oriental gift set is available from La Boutique du Thé, official stockist of Mariage Frères since 1999, in our shops in Bordeaux and Nice, delivered in its Mariage Frères box, ready to give.