When rain streaks the windows and the afternoon seems endless, we put water on to heat without quite knowing why. Refuge des Jours de Pluie Bio was born from that gesture: an infusion of leaves and seeds, without artifice, that smells of the countryside and of home.

Anise from Egypt and Turkey opens the blend, with mulberry leaves from Bulgaria and Albania and Egyptian fennel. Then come apple, rosehip, ribwort plantain, that meadow herb with narrow leaves recognised by its brown spikes, peppermint, raspberry leaves, elderflowers, rose petals and marigold flowers. Everything is organically grown.

Open the sachet: the dry blend evokes the barn and the freshly mown meadow. The liquor is golden, and its first impression is a comforting, rounded anise sweetness. The discreet fruitiness of apple and rosehip blends into it, a touch of peppermint airs the whole, and the mulberry and raspberry leaves give that full, herbal texture, barely tannic, which holds the mouth right through to the finish.

Caffeine-free, it naturally finds its place after a meal. Use between 12 and 15 g to one litre of water at 100 °C, and leave it to steep for seven to ten minutes, according to your taste. In a half-litre teapot, it easily serves two or three people.

It goes well with a pound cake, walnuts, or a warm apple compote. An airtight tin, kept dry and in the dark, will preserve it.