Nearly a third mint, more than a tenth cinnamon sticks: the entire character of Sérénité d’Orient Menthe Cannelle Bio rests on this face-off between a fresh herb and a warm bark. The name evokes the spice stalls and mint tea glasses of the Levant; the cup, for its part, speaks mainly of contrast.

The mint comes from Egypt, as does the fennel, which makes up roughly a tenth of the blend. The cinnamon sticks come from Indonesia and Viêt-Nam, the hibiscus from Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Egypt. Around them orbit liquorice root, ginger, orange peel, a Ceylon cinnamon that doubles the woody note, clove, a pinch of chamomile, pink peppercorn and cardamom. Every ingredient is organic.

In the sachet, it smells of the spice market. The liquor, coppery, opens on an immediate, almost striking mentholated freshness; the cinnamon responds at once and builds in power, round and warm. Between the two, the orange and the liquorice act as go-betweens, the hibiscus adds a slight acidity, and the finish ultimately reconciles both registers in a spiced length.

Caffeine-free, it was designed for the evening. A small 500 ml teapot calls for 7.5 to 10 g, with water brought to 100 °C, and the infusion runs from seven to ten minutes. A short steep favours the mint; a long one lets the cinnamon and spices take the lead.

Serve it with gazelle horns, stuffed dates, or an orange cake. An airtight container, stored in the shade, suits it: the mint keeps its brightness and the cinnamon its fragrance.