A Chinese lapsang souchong with smoky aroma from oak fires.

Above all other teas, J. P. Morgan favored this Chinese lapsang souchong with a wonderfully smoky aroma from oak fires.

Part of our Higbie & Sons Collection.

“J. P. Morgan Tea. A man of wealth and taste whose name remains famous though most of us know nothing about him, Mr. Morgan – as his Library attests – was alover of art and books who cherished peace and quite – the tea. There was a tea firm near his office which Mr. Morgan walked past for years, and he always saw the same taster at wok, “sipping, spitting, and looking wise,” as it’s been described. One day, Mr. Morgan ventured inside for his professional’s appraisal of his personal blend. He left, the story goes, visibly agitated ans shouting, “What do you know about tea? The magisterial taster maintained his look of mild authority until the financier was out of sight and then frile into gales of laughter. “Now that ought to bother him the rest of his life. He’s got the best tea money can buy, and I called it the worst I ever tasted!”

Mr. Morgan’s is one of the more interesting blends—certainly as many-layered as it is harmonious. Central to the flavor is the rounded, fruity taste of Formosa oolong, to which is married the astringent character of various black teas. Binding and fusing both tastes and aromas is a faint smokiness from Lapsang Souchong. One would never imagine Lapsang could play such an understated role or impart such elegance.”

– A Story of JP Morgan Tea is from “The Tea Lover’s Companion” by James Norman Pratt: