Le Praliné Christmas Tea

Le Praliné from the Kusmi Christmas edition. Black tea with roasted buckwheat and hojicha.

Le Praliné is a loose-leaf Christmas tea by Kusmi Tea in a 95 g metal tin. The blend consists of 53 percent black tea, 30 percent buckwheat, and 10 percent roasted green tea from Japan, plus natural flavorings. It is new in the 2026 Christmas edition.

The tin shines gold, featuring a repeating pattern of black diamonds and stylized eyes. In the center are printed “Le Cabinet de Voyance,” the Kusmi Tea brand name, and “Le Praliné – Une édition limitée.” The design is part of the 2026 Christmas collection, which is inspired by a fortune teller’s cabinet. The tin is marked as a limited edition.

What the tea tastes like

The name promises praline, and the blend delivers without chocolate or sugar. The base note comes from a full-bodied black tea with a slightly malty character.

The roasted buckwheat brings a warm, nutty aroma reminiscent of roasted hazelnuts or bread crust. In Japan, roasted buckwheat is also drunk on its own as sobacha.

The third ingredient is roasted green tea from Japan, known as hojicha. Roasting removes its grassy note and gives it a smoky, caramel flavor. Natural flavorings round out the blend with notes of chocolate and nuts.

Anyone expecting a sweet tea with real chocolate will find this blend too tart. It is not suitable for those who cannot tolerate caffeine, as black tea and hojicha contain caffeine. Those with a gluten intolerance should check the ingredients list: although buckwheat is gluten-free, cross-contamination cannot be ruled out in tea blends.

Botanically, buckwheat is not a cereal grain but a member of the knotweed family. Its kernels are roasted for tea until they are dark and fragrant. In the tin, you can recognize them as small, light brown kernels among the tea leaves.

Hojicha comes from Japan and is usually made from bancha, a late-harvest green tea. Roasting reduces its bitterness. This gives it a smooth, pleasant character.

How to prepare Le Praliné

According to Kusmi Tea, the leaves should be steeped in 90°C water for three to four minutes. Allow about one heaped teaspoon per cup.

The tea tastes best on its own, as this brings out the roasted aromas. A splash of warm milk makes it rounder and gives it an even stronger praline flavor. A spoonful of forest honey or a little maple syrup also pairs well with it.

Our tip: Prepare the tea twice as strong and serve it with frothed milk. This creates a tea latte that pairs perfectly with cookies or a slice of stollen in the afternoon.

Keep the tin tightly closed, cool, and dry. This preserves the roasted aromas for longer. The empty tin can later be used for other loose-leaf teas or spices.

The 2026 Christmas collection

The “Le Cabinet de Voyance” Christmas collection includes several teas and an Advent calendar. The tins all feature the same pattern of eyes and diamonds but differ in color. Le Praliné is the gold edition.

As a green counterpart, there is Le Dessert Christmas tea with apple, almond, and vanilla. Those who prefer a spiced tea should choose Tsarevna Christmas tea. The organic tea Advent calendar 2026 is available in a matching design.

The gold tin makes a great gift for tea drinkers who already know many classic Christmas teas. Le Praliné has little in common with cinnamon and orange.

Kusmi Tea from Paris

The history of Kusmi Tea began in 1867 in Saint Petersburg, where Pavel Kousmichoff opened a tea shop. Later, the family moved its headquarters to Paris. Today, Kusmi Tea is best known for its flavored blends in colorful metal tins.

The rest of the Parisian tea brand’s range is shown on our Kusmi Tea page.

A Christmas tea with roasted aromas for anyone who prefers drinking praline rather than snacking on it.