Silver linden, Tilia argentea, owes its name to the pale underside of its leaves; it is its flowers, picked with their bract, that make up Tilia Argentea, a natural, artisanal herbal infusion from Mariage Frères, caffeine-free. It is offered here in a box of 30 traditional round cotton muslins, 60 g in total.

The composition consists solely of silver linden, with no flavouring or other plant added. The infusion appears in the catalogue under the Jardin Premier label. It is not a tea: there is no leaf from the tea plant, and therefore no caffeine, which makes it an evening cup without restriction.

Under a limpid colour, veined with a tender jasper green, the house describes a silvery white tea note, extended by hints of orange blossom. The liquor is clear, soft, floral and honeyed, with the roundness typical of linden and a slight note of fresh hay. No bitterness, a soft, long finish.

It is drunk in the evening, after dinner, plain or with a touch of honey, and goes well with a light pastry, a madeleine or a pear tart. Lovers of white teas will find a kinship of flavour here, in a caffeine-free version. Infused then chilled, it makes a floral, thirst-quenching drink in summer.

Allow 1 muslin per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and six minutes’ steeping, a little longer than for a tea, needed for the flowers to give their full fragrance. The box keeps best closed, away from light, moisture and strong odours, as dried flowers are particularly sensitive to their surroundings.