Mariage Frères

How could I almost forget that I got to try this?

I stayed a night in Stratford, Ontario over the weekend and across the street from our hotel was a Balzac’s, the only place I have seen Mariage Freres in Toronto. I stopped in for a cup and this was an easy choice after reading so much about it here.

I was given the little sachet in my large cup and wanted to get rid of the teabag before leaving the cafe so that this didn’t get bitter. Thus, the steeping conditions weren’t ideal and this ended up weaker than it would have otherwise. Despite that, the black tea was nice and rich. The fruity flavours and floral ones were balanced really nicely, and I was getting some kind of bakey feeling from the combination of the black tea and the fruit as well as the milk I added. Delicious! I got a delicate feel from it while the flavours were rich and complex.

Thanks to QuiltGuppy for sharing from her stash. This is a new favorite! It’s floral and fruity at the same time, quite a feat. It’s light and refreshing, yet bold and strong at the same time too. Delish!

It is always interesting to go back and taste the first teas you thought were outstanding. (Kind of like Dinosara did today with her Earl Grey!) This one was near the top of my list. As time goes on, and my palate becomes a little more experienced, I have noticed that some things just loose their spark. I am sorry to say, but Marco Polo is one of those. I am wondering if a shorter steep will help, or maybe less leaves? But this one is no longer a favorite of mine personally.

Does anyone have room to adopt about 1 1/2 ounces of Marco Polo? It needs a home where it will be loved. I would gladly send along some of Mariage Freres Rouge Bourbon so it could have a friend from home…… (I will send them out in bags rather than tins to whomever wants them!)

My 100th tasting note! It is time for a party and a special tea. Marco Polo is a great tea for an indulgent afternoon cuppa. It tastes of strawberries and is lightly floral. The base is perfectly blended to match the flavor. This is definitely one of my teas of indulgence!

Happy 100 to ME!

I have been a good girl lately, and decided to treat myself to a tin of Marco Polo. Thank goodness they carry it at Williams-Sonoma, and I was able to get some without ordering. I have to be quite honest in that I was not wowed. But I think I had this built up in my mind to be the perfect tea for me…..overblown expectations…I could definitely taste the strawberry and fruits, and it had a round and full flavor that was incredibly smooth, and something creamy going on. In the words of my heroine Elizabeth, it was “quite pleasant.”

Now that my initial taste is out of the way (I am sorry Marco, that my expectations were a little out of line!) I will have to try it again for a better read on it. But I am thinking it will take several tins for me to get the full effect. Better start saving my pennies…..

Soft vanilla flavor. Slight notes of cherry cough syrup (!!). Malty black tea taste. Not getting much spice. Maybe a bit of cinnamon? I think my water is not hot enough.

I don’t know why I’m detecting cherry cough syrup in vanilla teas nowadays. Luckily, it’s not that strong in this one. But I’m surprised to find it in a Mariage Freres.

The best vanilla flavor in a tea has to be H&S’s Vanilla Comoro. For me, it’s unsurpassed (even if it is decaf).

So, when I visited Paris two years ago I loved tea. But that was nothing compared to where I’m at now. I knew very little and didn’t drink nearly as much as I do at this point. I picked this up in the airport as I’d been seeing those black tins everywhere. I liked breakfast teas, it was French, that was all there was to it.

I opened and drank a little of this when I got home and then, unfortunately, the tea was misplaced/forgotten about in a move. When I started wishing I had access to MF teas, I remembered it. What a waste, I thought! It’s pretty old at this point. And the tin has been open the entire time. I was going to try the tea anyway but I noticed a “best before” date stating I should drink it by the end of this year, which egged me on.

So I can’t really tell if this has been diminished by its poor storage conditions. But, it’s still quite nice and very drinkable. It is a lighter breakfast blend, but I find it still has a nice complexity and richness. There are sweet undertones that are really interesting and a little astringency to remind you it’s a breakfast tea.

Another Rachel tea! Thanks girl! :)

This is a nice to-go darjeeling. Sure, it has that usual woodsy-bitter-astringency you would think of when drinking a darjeeling but it is a nice middle of the road woodsy-bitter and I mean that in a nice way!

Thanks for the sample of this Rachel! You’re a peach!

This has just the right amount of smokiness to still be able to taste the smoothness and the black tea overall. There is a clue of citrus likeness to it, too, that makes it really special and the tips are lovely!

This is quite nice, indeed!

I have been wanting to try this one for AGES and thanks to Rachel I am able to today…thanks so much girl!

Aroma; black Tea, Flowers, something sweet, maybe fruity hints
Post Infusion Color of Liquor: really rich dark red-brown
Taste: WOW! This is VERY Sweet, Sugary, Candy-Like! Maybe Flavored Rock Candy, even! This is in a class of it’s own – it’s so different…so unique and so incredibly sugary-sweet! WOW! I’ll say it again…WOW!

THIS IS DAMN GOOD.
I usually dislike black teas.. wow, I can’t believe I liked it this much! This is a perfect tea =D

I bought this after receiving a gift card for William Sonoma. I have had this tea on my shopping list since I first joined steepster. And I finally cracked it open. The smell that came out was amazing. Smells of strawberries, freshly baked chocolate cake, deep vanilla, and some floral. What a perfect Valentine’s Day tea! :)

The brew wasn’t as strong as it smelled. Still a lovely black tea, very enchanting. With the name Marco Polo, I was thinking more spices in the tea. I love the ending taste of the tea, that has to be the flowers. This is a very original flavor. I just wish it was more affordable.

Upon reading other reviews, I’m not entirely sure if i’m confusing the chocolate taste for what i thought was vanilla…. perhaps wishful thinking. Either way, this tea has a creamy/sweet undertone which is absolutely lovely. I’m not really big on citrus notes, and I will consume anything that tastes remotely like vanilla, or ginger, or mint. (I’m really bad at speaking taste bud as well, so if you know my general preferences that may help). I just finished a tin of this, and the cup sitting in front of me really isn’t a proper cup (a lot of tea powder) but this stuff is so good i’m making due. This is one of my favorite “black” teas; it’s very smooth and well balanced. I’d put it on the same level as golden monkey- liquid heaven. Do yourself a solid and pick up a tin, or at least a sample. And pick me up one as well? Cool! Thanks! You’re the best!

I had this for the first time this morning. It’s wonderful! I went lightly on the steeping time as I don’t add milk or sweetener. It smells like black tea with strawberries and cream. It’s heavenly!

Brewed with the Breville at 200 degrees for 2 minutes.

Once made, it still smells wonderfully! It’s fruity and creamy. The taste is nice. Slightly bitter, but not outrageously so. The strawberries are pleasant tasting and not overly sweet. It tastes creamy, but doesn’t feel heavy. It does have a slight drying effect in my mouth afterward. I really like this tea and had been looking forward to trying it. I’m so glad I found it yesterday! It didn’t let me down.

My favourite smoky tea – this has a punchy smoke aroma – but the taste of the tea is pleasantly subtle. Good with a dash of milk, with or without sugar – I prefer without. Pairs well with meaty and hearty foods – such as english breakfasts and bacon sandwiches. Also the best tea for making tea-smoked duck (from an Annie Bell book, ‘More Taste Than Time’ – but similar recipes exist online).

Comforting, refreshing, peaceful, mysterious – all at once. Pricey but worth it. This powdered green tea is really very special and easy to drink. Full of antioxidants its healthy too – and goes well with food – especially oriental, cakes, fish dishes. Brilliant!

This is a perfect yellow tea — pure, delicate, intense, light. I find that with yellow teas I have to experiment with the amount of tea per cup. I just made it with two tablespoons instead of one, and I found it better with that quantity than with one. I will probably experiment with more and less to find what’s right for me. Mariage Freres recommends steeping it at 170 degrees.

Pas mal du tout. habituellement les thés parfumés me font fuir, celui-là est assez subtil pour être supportable.

Interesting flavour – smoky yet refreshing. I prefer this with milk and a touch of sugar.

This tea has a pretty, soft violet scent, good with or without milk.

This is a glamorous earl grey with its pretty blue flowers. I love to lift the lid of the tin and take a big sniff – it has an exhilerating, yet delicate scent and makes a refreshing and uplifting drink – good first thing in the morning or mid afternoon with cake or other light foods. I have mine with semi-skimmed milk, no sugar or sweetener. Thirst-quenching and fragrant. Delightful.