A rosé white tea, with gourmand notes of white almonds lifted by gentle spices: Full Moon Rhapsody pays tribute to the full moon, and Mariage Frères has decorated its box with a rosette in lunar reflections. It is sold in a box of thirty round cotton muslin sachets, for a net weight of 75 g.

The ingredients are tea, beetroot, which gives the rosy hue, a flavouring, cinnamon, clove, almond and blue flowers. Almond is part of the composition, which makes it a declared allergen; the blend may contain traces of other nuts. Our product sheet records a base of Pai Mu Tan, a white tea from China.

White tea, lightly processed and low in caffeine, gives a light, velvety liquor on which the aromas settle delicately. The white almond opens, creamy and pastry-like, then cinnamon and clove bring a measured warmth, and the finish is sweet, almost milky, without sugar. The soft pink colour of the infusion is part of its charm.

It is drunk in the afternoon, plain, and goes with an almond cake, a financier, a shortbread or a poached pear. Its lightness makes it pleasant in the evening too, and iced it makes a much-admired rosy drink. Those who know London Rhapsody, from the same family, will find a richer and warmer version.

Allow one muslin sachet per 200 ml of water at 85°C and seven minutes of steeping, as white tea needs more time and less heat than a black. Keep the box closed, away from kitchen smells.