Each year, Mariage Frères dedicates a tea to the sign of the Asian zodiac that governs it. The Year of the Sheep returns every twelve years: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, and so on. Thé des Signes Mouton is the tea of those born under this sign, and a New Year gift for them, housed in an artisan box, lacquered and screen-printed in France, in a beautiful jade green whose shape evokes the Temple of Heaven, containing 100 g of tea.

The base is a silky green tea, enriched with the airy, honeyed notes of winter melon, an Asian fruit with sweet, lightly sugared flesh. The tea is sprinkled with jasmine flowers and goji berries, which are the signature of the collection. The declared ingredients are green tea, goji berries, jasmine flowers and flavouring; the blend may contain traces of tree nuts.

The liquor is clear and fragrant. The melon opens, fruity and sweet, the jasmine joins gently, and the green tea brings a invigorating freshness that keeps the whole joyful and sunny. The goji berry, once infused, gives a discreet fruity touch. Nothing heavy: this is a green tea for the day.

It is drunk plain, throughout the day, and goes well with a fruit dessert or an Asian pastry. Infused then chilled, it makes a very pleasant fruity iced tea.

Use 3 g per 200 ml of water at 85 °C and steep for four minutes. The lacquered box, once empty, can be kept; while in use, keep it closed and away from light. La Boutique du Thé has been the official stockist of Mariage Frères since 1999.