Maté is not a tea: it is the leaf of a South American holly, dried and crushed, which has been drunk for centuries in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Mariage Frères offers a fragrant interpretation of it with Latino Mucho, a green maté that sunny, zested bergamot brightens.

The composition comes down to two words, maté and flavouring; the full list appears on the tin and on this sheet. Green maté, unroasted, retains an intense herbaceous freshness, slightly bitter, which the house describes as intensely fresh. The bergamot, for its part, brings citrus, clean and luminous, as in an Earl Grey.

The cup is vegetal, frank and refreshing. The grass opens, slightly bitter, then the zest takes over and lengthens the finish with a lively note. It is a drink with a Latin spirit, says Mariage Frères, and it is true that it is happily enjoyed outdoors, hot or cold.

We recommend it in the morning or during the day, plain. In summer it is excellent iced: infuse with hot water, let it cool, serve over ice cubes with a slice of lemon. It accompanies a fruit breakfast or a light lunch, and appeals to those who find tea too mild.

For preparation, allow 3.5 g per 200 ml of water at 80 °C and 5 minutes of steeping; water that is too hot would heighten the bitterness of the maté. Mariage Frères presents it in a matte pearlescent blue tin, hand screen-printed, which holds at least 80 g of flavoured green maté. The blend may contain traces of nuts. Latino Mucho is available from La Boutique du Thé, official stockist of Mariage Frères since 1999, in Bordeaux and Nice; keep the tin closed, away from light.