Lovely leaves scattered with beautiful golden buds: this is the signature of Yunnan, and Yunnan Valley is an example of fine plucking. The FOP grade, Flowery Orange Pekoe, denotes whole leaves accompanied by buds, those golden tips that give the black teas of this Chinese province their characteristic sweetness and roundness.

Yunnan, in the south-west of China, is known as the valley of eternal spring, and its tea grows “under the clouds”, at altitude, in a region that is also the historic birthplace of the tea plant. Mariage Frères describes this lot as young and seductive, a lovely discovery. A natural black tea, with no added fragrance.

Once infused, the leaves exhale cocoa bean, blueberry and rosewood. The cup, smooth, with glints of armagnac, charms with a lively and balanced liquor. A hint of almond first, then enveloping notes of candied quince and apricot, and a chocolatey finish full of roundness. The tannins are supple, as always in a good Yunnan: sweetness dominates, without ever becoming flat.

A daytime tea, for morning or afternoon, which is drunk plain to appreciate all its nuances, but which can take a splash of milk in the morning. It accompanies breakfast, apricot jam on toast, a fruit cake, a square of dark chocolate, or a poultry lunch. Lovers of Assam will find a similar roundness here, with more sweetness and less power.

Allow 3 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and steep for three minutes. Yunnan Valley is 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 taste. Store it in a dry place, away from light and strong odours.