Sir John Blend is one of our most beloved specialty blends and carries with it the memory of a father and son. The tea was created in 1982 by Vernon Mauris as a tribute to his father Sir Anthony, whose evening ritual on the veranda was constantly surrounded by the scent of pipe tobacco and freshly brewed tea. This olfactory image inspired Vernon to create a blend that combines smoke, warmth and elegance.

The base is a powerful Lapsang with its characteristic note of tar and nut, smoked over an open fire in the traditional style. Against this deep aroma rests a fresh and bright shade of bergamot and a soft touch of jasmine that rounds off the taste. The result is a black tea with a clear smokiness that opens wider after a few seconds and leaves a clean and pleasantly refreshing aftertaste.

Sir John Blend is a tea for quiet evenings and is particularly suitable after a meal of flavoursome dishes. The distinct smokiness makes it a fine companion to food with fatty and spicy elements. Many also appreciate serving it with whiskey where the dryness and elegance of the tea lifts the whole.

The blend was created with Stockholm in mind. The city's soft water brings out the tea's character in an exemplary way, allowing both smoke and citrus to bloom without being overpowering. This quickly earned the tea a devoted following and today it is in demand far beyond Sweden's borders.

Sir John Blend is more than a tea blend. It is a memory in a cup, a silent farewell letter from a son to a father who never wanted to see him return, but who nevertheless had a tea created in his honor. A tea that stands tall, like Sir Anthony himself, with a deep smokiness that is softened by a final note of fresh bergamot and jasmine.