FRENCH NAME MÉLANGE DE THÉS POUR L’APRÈS-MIDI
BLEND NO. 3521
A connoisseur blend of Indian black and China green, yielding a wonderful cup, rich in champagne character. LOOSE TEALEAVES
AROMA: Floral and soft
PALATE: Rich palate with floral overtones and a dry finish
"The ritual of the English tea-time was brought to perfection by the late Queen Mary, for whom it was her favourite time of day. Everything had to be fully ready by 4 p.m. punctually, with sandwiches; cakes and biscuits invitingly set out on gleaming silver dishes upon a smoothly running trolley. The teapot, cream jug, hot water jug and sugar bowl were always the same antique silver service which had been a favourite of Queen Victoria…Queen Mary would take over and meticulously measure out her favourite Indian tea from a jade tea-caddy she kept locked in a cupboard. Then she would pour on the boiling water and complete the tea-making ritual by snuffing out the spirit stove before sitting back for the footmen to pour tea and hand round sandwiches and cakes. But before Queen Mary gave the signal for this to begin she would always let exactly three minutes elapse from the moment she poured hot water on to the leaves so that the tea would be perfectly brewed."
~CHARLES OLIVER~ from Dinner at Buckingham Palace.