L’Élixir d’amour is first and foremost an opera by Donizetti, a tale of love potions and feelings. Mariage Frères, which compares this tea to an operatic aria, has made it a blue tea with a golden liquor, which it describes as an idyll between the elegance of rose and the liveliness of citrus.

Blue tea, or oolong, is a semi-oxidised leaf, midway between green and black: it gives a round, velvety liquor with a naturally floral aroma, on which rose and citrus settle without clashing. The declared composition combines blue tea, flavouring, cornflowers and rose; the blend may contain traces of tree nuts. The cornflowers, visible in the dry leaf, give the blend its look.

In the cup, the liquor is golden, shot through with lights that the house compares to a drape. The citrus opens, bright and zesty; the rose follows, elegant and never overpowering; the oolong brings softness and length. The floral notes intertwine without any one dominating, and the finish, fresh and slightly tangy, remains free of bitterness.

It is an afternoon tea, to be drunk plain, without milk or sugar, to preserve the finesse of the leaf. It accompanies shortbread, a citrus tart, rose macarons or a lychee dessert; infused and then chilled, it makes a fresh, floral drink. Its tin also makes a ready-made gift for someone you love.

It is sold loose leaf, weighed to order in our Bordeaux and Nice shops in quantities from the 5 g sample up to one kilo, and in a black metal tin of 100 g, airtight and crimped, presented in its gift box. The infusion parameters specific to each format are listed on its product page. Reseal after each use, away from light and kitchen odours.