Prince Vladimir – Black Tea with Citrus Fruits & Clove

Prince Wladimir by Kusmi Tea, the spicy orange black tea since 1888

Prince Wladimir is one of Kusmi Tea's classic Russian blends, created in 1888 in honor of Vladimir the Great, the founder of Holy Russia. Black tea from China, flavored with orange peel, cinnamon extract, clove, vanilla, and essential citrus oils. Loose in a 100g tin, organically grown. Spicy, orangey, elegant.

The Prince Wladimir tea from Kusmi Tea is one of the house's iconic Russian blends, created in 1888 in honor of Vladimir I, Prince of Kiev from 980 and founder of Holy Russia, also known as "Vladimir the Great" or "the Red Sun." The blend is based on black tea from China, refined with orange peel, cinnamon extract, natural vanilla and clove flavoring, as well as essential citrus oils. A spicy-fruity variation of Earl Grey, combining citrus, spice, and sweetness into an elegant triad.

Amber-colored, spicy-orangey with a sweet vanilla note

As soon as the tin is opened, a warm, spicy aroma unfolds: fresh orange peel meets cinnamon and clove, gently underpinned by the creamy sweetness of vanilla. The tea leaves are deep black with visible pieces of orange peel and delicate spice notes – a hallmark of the classic Russian blend.

In the cup, Prince Wladimir displays a luminous amber color. The first sip is full-bodied and deep; the orange brings fruity brightness, cinnamon and clove add wintery accents, and vanilla rounds it all off with velvety warmth. The finish leaves a mild citrus spice that evokes Russian winter days – or those teas once served at the Tsar's court, when Vladimir the Great was still called "the Beautiful Sun."

Afternoon with pâté or gingerbread

Prince Wladimir is a classic winter afternoon tea that pairs wonderfully with savory pastries and sweet spiced cakes alike. It goes well with Russian wild game pâté, cinnamon rolls, gingerbread and stollen during Advent, but also with dark chocolate with orange filling or a piece of nut corner on a Sunday afternoon.

Those who drink the tea plain will experience the spices most distinctly. With a splash of milk, it becomes a wintery indulgence; with a teaspoon of honey, the vanilla is particularly emphasized. It also makes a fine Russian tea in the samovar style – with a sugarloaf at hand, as prescribed by ancient Tsarist Russian tradition. You'll need about 2 tablespoons of loose tea per liter for a pot, steeped with 90 °C hot water for 3 to 5 minutes.

The Russian Kusmi blends form a harmonious quartet: the floral Bouquet de Fleurs N°108 (1880, the oldest blend of the house), the fresh citrus Anastasia with bergamot and orange blossom, the spicy-orangey Prince Wladimir (1888), and the sweet-caramelly Sankt Petersburg with red fruits. If you love one of these blends, you'll find closely related characters in the other three.

Kusmi Tea, the Russian tea house from Paris

The history of Kusmi Tea begins in 1867 in Saint Petersburg, where 21-year-old Pavel Mikhailovich Kousmichoff opens his own tea house. His blends quickly become favorites at the Tsar's court. Prince Wladimir is created in 1888, when his son Viatcheslav is eight years old, at a time when the house is already one of Russia's leading tea merchants. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the family flees to Paris, where Kusmi Tea has been based ever since.

In the modern manufactory in Le Havre, the classic recipes are still maintained and expanded with new blends. Since 2017, almost all teas are organically grown, and the essential oils and flavors are 100% natural. The iconic round metal tins bear the logo of St. Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg and have become a hallmark of the house. In our Kusmi Tea collection, you'll find an overview of all the blends.