A chilled blue tea, and a summer of flowers: Flower Summer by Mariage Frères draws its strength, according to the house, from hibiscus flowers, answered by notes of orchid, touches of orange blossom and sweet notes of cherry blossom. It belongs to the French Summer Tea collection, created for cold infusion, and the black glass bottle carries a colourful label with a seventies spirit.

The base is a blue tea, or oolong, semi-oxidised, which gives a golden, silky liquor even when infused cold. The ingredients are tea, blue flowers, hibiscus and flavouring; the blend may contain traces of tree nuts. Our product sheet confirms a blue tea base and a low caffeine content.

Cold infusion draws out the aromas without the tannins. The chilled liquor is clear, fruity and floral: the hibiscus adds a tangy edge, the orchid and orange blossom add depth, the cherry blossom adds softness, and the texture of the blue tea wraps everything together. No sugar needed.

Serve it in a jug, iced, at a summer lunch, as an alcohol-free aperitif or at an afternoon snack in the garden. Prepared the day before, it waits in the cool, and its golden colour looks its best in a clear carafe.

The method is simple: one measuring spoon, about 10 g, in a filter pouch, for 1 to 1.5 litres of pure water, at least one hour in the refrigerator, then remove the filter. The glass bottle, in glossy black blown glass with a measuring spoon, contains 160 g, enough to prepare up to 24 litres, and it comes with a packet of filter pouches.