The intense joy of a rainbow, glowing with sunshine and light, a herald of restored peace: this is what Mariage Frères set out to capture in Rainbow Rhapsody, a flamboyant white tea blend with sparkling fruity accents, whose rosy-hued cup offers a lively, fragrant harmony of citrus.

White tea is the most delicate of teas, a leaf barely processed, which yields a pale, silky liquor with very discreet tannins. The blend combines white tea, red beetroot and flavouring; the blend may contain traces of nuts. The beetroot adds no taste: it gives the infusion its rosy colour, which is the whole charm of the cup.

It is presented in a case dotted with white peas and decorated with a whirl of cheerful colours, containing 30 traditional round cotton muslin tea sachets, net weight 75 g. A case that invites, according to the house, gathering around a cup.

In the cup, the liquor is rosy, clear and velvety. The citrus opens, sparkling and fresh: orange, lemon, mandarin, then the white tea rounds everything off with a sugar-free sweetness, and a long, light finish. It is an afternoon or evening tea, low in caffeine, which is drunk plain, and which children love for its colour. It accompanies a citrus salad, lemon biscuits, macarons, or a birthday tea. Served iced, in a clear glass, it becomes a pink, thirst-quenching summer drink.

Preparation calls for water at 85 °C, 1 sachet per 200 ml, and seven minutes of steeping: white tea needs time and cooler water to release its sweetness. The case should be kept closed, away from light and strong odours. For a teapot, allow one sachet per cup.