Le Marche Spice Loose Leaf Black Tea

LE MARCHE SPICE (Black Tea with natural flavors)

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka

Cup Characteristics: An excellent spice tea tending cinnamon hot with delicious fruit notes.

Infusion: Bright and Coppery.

Ingredients: Luxury black tea, Natural dried orange, Cinnamon pieces, Triacetin oil, Natural flavors.

Information:

If you've never been to the grand Bazaar at Marrakesh, you'll feel like you have once you brew a pot of this delightful tea. The tantalizing blend of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and orange will delight your senses and make you feel as though you yourself had wandered the market stalls browsing and haggling over spice prices. The blend was originally conceived by the French Governor of Marrakesh at the height of the French empire - hence the French name, Le Marché. He served the tea to the foreign dignitaries who would regularly visit his residence which was situated just a short walk from the Bazaar. He loved the combination of spices for its ability to cool the body down in the sultry Moroccan climate and the way it blended with the sweet oranges the country is famous for. Sadly for Monsieur le Gouverneur, the French lost their seat in old Morocco. Happily for the world in general however, they left behind the recipe for this spicy blend. Pour yourself a cup today mon ami and dream of Africa - North Africa that is.

Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help enhance the flavor character on this tea, it is perfectly acceptable to consume this tea ‘straight-up’

Iced tea brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or ‘milky’ when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!