Versailles Lavender Earl Grey

Black Tea

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka, France 
Region: Dimbula, Provence 
Shipping Port: Colombo, Marseilles
Grade: OP (Orange Pekoe) 
Altitude: 5600 ft, below 1000 ft. 
Manufacture Type:Orthodox
Cup Characteristics:French #1 super blue lavender transports a floral harvest of Provence to an intoxicating Earl Grey.
Infusion: Bright and coppery, floral notes blend with a citrus sweetness.
Ingredients:Luxury black tea, Lavender, Cornflower petals, Natural flavours.

Versailles. The very mention of the famous chateau built by the King of France Louis XIV conjures up images of unbelievable opulence. Early in his reign Louis XIV moved his royal court from Paris to the countryside and began construction of the chateau. Work on the structure began in 1664 and continued almost until his death in 1715. And why did it take so long you may ask? Well, Versailles is big - very big! The chateau has more than 2,000 windows, 700 rooms filled with thousands of paintings, tapestries, sculptures, and pieces of furniture, 1250 fireplaces, 67 staircases and is surrounded by more than 1,800 acres of parkland.

Louis XIV's life in the palace was extremely regimented. Nothing was left to chance since as King, he was considered second only to God, and deserved only the best. Subsequently, at Versailles, there were rules for everything. (This is where our inspiration for this tea blend comes in.) Louis XIV was always known for his fondness for fresh lavender from the French countryside. He was so fond of it that he demanded to be bathed in lavender scented water every morning. In 1658, he even issued a royal decree ruling exactly how lavender was to be used to scent soap, the "Edit du Roi Pour le Manufactures du Savon" - the man seriously loved his Lavender. So, when it came time to blend a tea in honor of this ancient royal, it only seemed fitting that we blend it with the King's favorite flower.

Aside from being a lover of lavender, Louis XIV was also revered at the time as quite a statesman. So, since it is no secret that over the years there has been no love lost between the French and the English, we thought we'd do our part for French statesmanship by blending our fresh lavender with a British favorite, Earl Grey. We think that you'll find the results to be as sumptuous as the vast halls of Versailles. When brewed, this tea has a delicate floral bouquet that compliments the citrus character of Earl Grey's bergamot beautifully. Truly an exceptional tea. A votre santé!