Eight plants and not a single tea leaf: Happy Ending is a herbal infusion, naturally caffeine-free, which Mariage Frères blends with rosemary, lemon thyme, lemon balm, mint, hibiscus, lime blossom, ginger and red rooibos. The full list appears on the box and on this page. It is presented in a box of thirty round cotton muslin tea sachets, sewn in France, for a content of 75 g.

Colour is the first surprise. The hibiscus dyes the infusion an intense pink, which can deepen to bright red depending on the quantity of flowers in the muslin, the temperature, the quality of the water or the steeping time; the house warns that the shade varies, and this is the sign of a natural product.

On the palate, the lemon balm, mint and lime blossom give gentle flavours; the hibiscus and ginger bring, according to the house, captivating accents that are tangy and warm; the lemon thyme and rosemary form a more herbaceous, Mediterranean aromatic bouquet. The rooibos rounds everything off with a touch of sweetness. It is a joyful cup, to borrow Mariage Frères’ word, and very easy to enjoy.

It can be drunk at any hour, and especially in the evening, since it is naturally caffeine-free. Plain, unsweetened, or iced in summer, when the pink becomes proudly summery. It goes with a fruit dessert or is enjoyed on its own, after dinner.

For preparation, allow 1 sachet per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and 6 minutes of steeping, as the plants need more time than tea. The blend may contain traces of nuts. Happy Ending is available from La Boutique du Thé, official stockist of Mariage Frères since 1999, in Bordeaux and Nice.