Orient Express Black Tea

A light, aromatic blend of black and green teas with tropical jackfruit, bright orange, creamy almond, and colorful rose and marigold blossoms.

The Experience

Orient Express Black Tea is a layered fruit-and-floral tea that moves between bright, tropical flavors and the softer richness of almond.

The foundation combines black and green teas from China and Sri Lanka, creating a lighter base than a conventional flavored black tea. Jackfruit brings an unusual tropical fruit character, while orange peel adds familiar citrus brightness. Sliced almonds introduce a creamy, nutty quality that rounds the sharper fruit notes and gives the cup a smooth finish.

Rose petals and marigold blossoms complete the blend with delicate floral aromatics while creating a particularly beautiful dry leaf. The result is fruity and fragrant without becoming heavy, with tropical fruit and citrus appearing first and a softer almond character developing through the finish.

For customers who usually find flavored black teas too strong or dessert-like, Orient Express offers something different: light body, exotic fruit, gentle florals, and creamy nuttiness in the same cup.

Tasting Notes

• Top: Jackfruit • Bright orange
  
• Mid: Tropical fruit • Gentle florals
  
• Finish: Creamy almond • Softly aromatic
  
• Body: Light

Why You’ll Love It

Orient Express stands apart because no single flavor completely dominates the blend. Jackfruit provides an unusual tropical dimension, orange keeps the cup bright, almond contributes richness, and rose and marigold add floral lift.

The combination of black and green tea also creates a lighter foundation than many flavored black teas, making Orient Express particularly enjoyable in the afternoon or for customers who want flavor without a heavy cup.

It's also an excellent choice for adventurous tea drinkers looking beyond familiar combinations such as peach, raspberry, or vanilla. Jackfruit and almond make this one memorable.

Origin & Ingredients

Tea Type: Flavored Black & Green Tea Blend
Tea Origins: China & Sri Lanka
Flavor Profile: Tropical Fruit • Orange • Almond • Floral
Ingredients: Black tea, green tea, orange peel, jackfruit, sliced almonds, rose petals, marigold blossom
Caffeine: Yes
Body: Light

Allergen Warning: CONTAINS NUTS.

How to Brew

Use 1 level teaspoon per 6 oz of water at 203–212°F / 95–100°C and steep for 3–5 minutes.

Because Orient Express contains tea leaves alongside larger pieces of jackfruit, orange peel, almonds, and flower petals, gently mix the loose tea before measuring. This helps distribute the ingredients more evenly from cup to cup.

Try it straight first. The fruit and almonds already give the tea a naturally rounded flavor, so you may find that it needs little or no additional sweetener.

Perfect For

Orient Express is especially enjoyable for afternoon tea, spring and summer gatherings, adventurous tea tastings, or anytime you want a lighter-flavored tea with plenty to discover. Pair it with almond cookies, madeleines, fruit tarts, orange cake, macarons, shortbread, fresh berries, or lightly sweet pastries. Its fruit-and-almond combination makes it particularly versatile with European-style pastries.

What Does Jackfruit Taste Like?

One of the ingredients that makes Orient Express unusual is jackfruit. Rather than contributing one easily identifiable fruit flavor, jackfruit can suggest a combination of tropical-fruit characteristics. In this blend, it adds an exotic fruity dimension that works alongside the brighter, more recognizable flavor of orange. That distinction is useful when tasting the tea.

Look for the orange first—bright, citrusy, and familiar. Then notice the softer tropical fruit character surrounding it. Finally, almond arrives with a creamier impression and changes the finish. This progression is what makes Orient Express more interesting than a straightforward orange-flavored tea.

Fruit, Flowers, and Almond

Orient Express brings together three very different flavor families.

1. Fruit provides brightness. Jackfruit creates the tropical personality of the blend, while orange peel adds citrus lift.
2. Flowers provide aroma. Rose petals and marigold blossoms add delicate floral qualities while making the loose tea visually striking.
3. Almond provides softness. Its creamy, nutty character rounds out the fruit and gives the finish greater depth.

Underneath all three is the combination of black and green tea, which provides enough structure to hold the flavors together without creating an overly robust cup. Take a sip while the tea is hot and then return to it as it cools. You may find that different parts of the blend become easier to recognize at different temperatures.

A Lighter Approach to Flavored Black Tea

Although Orient Express is named and categorized as a black tea, green tea is also part of its base. That matters in the cup. A conventional full-bodied black-tea base can provide considerable malt, tannin, and weight. Blending black tea with green tea creates a lighter foundation, allowing the fruit, flowers, and almond to play a larger role without competing against an especially powerful tea base.

That makes Orient Express a useful bridge between categories. If you primarily drink flavored black tea, it introduces a lighter style. If you prefer green tea but occasionally want something richer, the black tea provides additional structure. And if you're simply looking for something different, the combination offers plenty to explore.

What's Behind the Name “Orient Express”?

There is no documented historical connection between this particular tea recipe and the famous Orient Express railway. The name is therefore best treated as evocative rather than as a claim about the blend's historical origin.

It does, however, suit a tea built around a sense of discovery. Tea from China and Sri Lanka, tropical jackfruit, orange, almond, rose, and marigold come together in a blend that moves through several different aromas and flavors. We prefer to let the journey happen where it matters: in the cup.

Packaging: Our loose teas are sold by the ounce and packaged in food-grade resealable bags.

Explore Our Fruit, Floral & Nutty Black Teas

If you enjoy the layered personality of Orient Express, explore other teas that combine fruit, flowers, nuts, and aromatic black-tea bases.

Orient Express Black Tea (This Tea)
Jackfruit • Orange • Almond & florals
→ Best for: adventurous tea drinkers seeking a lighter blend with tropical fruit, citrus, flowers, and creamy almond

Caramel & Almonds Black Tea
Caramel • Roasted almond • Creamy
→ Best for: those who want to take the almond character in a sweeter, more indulgent direction

Harriet’s Bouquet Black Tea
Rose • Lavender • Orange & bergamot
→ Best for: those drawn to Orient Express's floral character who want a more garden-inspired artisan blend

Mango Tropical Black Tea
Mango • Tropical fruit • Full black tea
→ Best for: those who want to explore the tropical-fruit side of flavored black tea