Winter usually calls for cinnamon and cloves. Hiver Frais Menthe Réglisse Bio takes the opposite view: a herbal infusion for the cold season in which freshness outweighs warmth. We should say at once that it contains no liquorice root; it is aniseed, in seeds and as a natural flavouring, that gives the blend the flavour we spontaneously associate with liquorice.

The base is fruity: Turkish apple, in pieces and fragments, hibiscus (Nigeria, Egypt, Burkina Faso), rose hips, orange peel and goji berries. The aniseed comes from Egypt and Turkey. The mint and whole verbena bring the green note, the cornflower petals their blue sparkle. Fruits and plants come from organic farming.

Dry, the red blend flecked with green is intriguing. The liquor is garnet-coloured and clear. The hibiscus attacks with its red-fruit acidity, then the mint asserts itself, clean and frank, set on the aniseed sweetness that rounds out the mid-palate. The orange and goji add a fruity roundness, the verbena a lemony touch on the finish.

Naturally caffeine-free, it suits evenings as well as afternoon breaks. A large 300 ml cup takes 4.5 to 6 g, and a litre, 15 to 20 g; the water must boil, 100 °C, and the infusion should last ten to twelve minutes: the dried fruits need this time to colour the cup and release their flavour.

It pairs with a tarte Tatin, a spiced bread, clementines. We weigh it to order; once at home, a well-sealed tin protects it from light and humidity.