Place a tea heart at the bottom of a glass teapot, pour in 500 ml of simmering water, and watch. The green tea buds, tied by hand into the shape of a heart, open slowly during infusion and unfurl into a delicate bouquet, releasing a necklace of jasmine dotted with a rosebud. The Sweetheart Tea is as much to be admired as it is to be prepared.

These shaped teas are a Chinese tradition: buds are sewn together with flowers, then dried, so that the shape is only revealed on contact with water. This one combines green tea, jasmine, calendula and rose; the blend may contain traces of nuts. Mariage Frères presents nine hearts in a fuchsia lacquered box with a double lid.

The liquor is clear and velvety, with the tender vegetal sweetness of a bud tea. The jasmine perfumes without overwhelming, the rose slips in behind, and the cup remains very light. The same heart can be infused several times; subsequent infusions are more subtle but still fragrant.

It is an afternoon and festive tea, to be shared: the transparent teapot is part of the ritual, and it is the kind of gift that surprises the person who receives it. Serve it with a very simple biscuit, so as not to mask the jasmine, or serve it on its own, at the end of a meal, as a small ceremony.

The house recommends one heart for 500 ml of water at 85 °C and five minutes of infusion. Keep the box closed, away from light, so that the jasmine keeps its freshness until the last heart.