Curtain up, bravo, bravissimo: Mariage Frères has written Rouge Opéra like an operatic aria. On stage, a chorus of red fruits and precious spices crowned with vanilla; in counterpoint, the sweetness of a sweetened red rooibos. The register, the house says, remains that of indulgent sensuality.

Rooibos is a South African shrub whose oxidised needles give a red infusion that is sweet, low in tannins and caffeine-free. The ingredient list comes down to two words, red rooibos and flavouring; the blend may contain traces of tree nuts. Rouge Opéra carries the house's Jardin Premier label.

The liquor, a deep red, is round and sweet. Red fruits open, ripe and sugary; the spices give a warm depth; vanilla smooths the finish, and the rooibos beneath brings its woody, honeyed base. It is a dessert cup, complete in itself.

The evening infusion par excellence, it is shared with family after dinner, plain, with a cloud of milk or a drizzle of honey for those who wish. It goes with a chocolate cake, a red fruit tart, vanilla shortbread; iced, with a few raspberries, it becomes a summer drink that children love as much as adults.

Rouge Opéra is available loose, weighed to order in our Bordeaux and Nice shops from the 5 g sample to the kilo, and in a 100 g metal tin, black and airtight, presented in its gift box. Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and five minutes' steeping; close the bag or tin tightly, away from light and air.