An afternoon in July, a jug taken from the fridge, ice cubes chiming: this is the natural setting for Menthe Framboise Pétillante Bio. The word “pétillante” is an image, not a promise of bubbles; it speaks of the liveliness of a blend that combines the freshness of an herb with the most indulgent red fruit of summer.

Three ingredients form the framework: lemongrass from Egypt, natural rooibos from South Africa and mint, also from Egypt, which makes up about a fifth of the blend. Then come apple, hibiscus, natural raspberry flavouring, lemon peel, raspberry leaves and dried raspberries. Plants and fruits are grown organically.

Green speckled with red, this blend has something cheerful about it. The liquor, a lovely pink, immediately combines mint and ripe raspberry, without one overwhelming the other. The lemongrass draws a lemony line between the two, the rooibos brings a soft, woody base, and the hibiscus a tart edge that keeps the finish clean.

It is drunk from morning to evening, as it is caffeine-free. One litre calls for 12 to 15 g; the water boils at 100 °C; seven minutes is enough, ten at most. For the iced version, let the infusion cool, then serve it over ice with a few fresh mint leaves and a handful of raspberries: an alcohol-free festive drink, simple to prepare.

It pairs with a pavlova, a panna cotta, or a lemon sorbet. Packed to order in Bordeaux and Nice, it travels in pouches designed to keep its aromatic freshness intact.