Wild lavender and rose petals: just open the sachet to know where Rouge Provence comes from. Mariage Frères offers a version on red rooibos of its blend inspired by Provence, for those who wish to recapture the landscape without caffeine.

Rooibos is a shrub from South Africa whose fine needles, oxidised then dried, give a red infusion that is naturally caffeine-free and low in tannins. The composition is limited to red rooibos, a flavouring, rose and Provence lavender; the blend may contain traces of nuts. Dry, the lavender buds and rose petals stand out among the russet needles.

In the cup, the liquor is round and soft, an amber red. Notes of red and black fruit blend into the sweet scent of the rooibos, and the lavender and the rose offer them, in the house’s words, a delightful reply: a floral brightness, slightly herbaceous, that wakes up the fruit. Well dosed, the lavender remains a fragrance, never soap, and the finish keeps a sweetness that did not need sugar.

Caffeine-free, it is an evening infusion, after dinner, or an all-day drink for those who limit their tea. Plain, or with a cloud of milk that makes it almost pastry-like, it accompanies a red fruit dessert, a fig tart, a nougat or a calisson. Iced, with a slice of lemon, it makes a Provençal summer in a glass.

You will find it loose leaf, weighed and packed to order in our shops in Bordeaux and Nice, from the 5 g sample to the kilo, or in an iconic 100 g black metal tin, airtight and with a resealable lid, in its gift box. Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and five minutes of infusion, and keep the blend away from light and moisture.