Pandanus, this South-East Asian leaf that perfumes rice, laid over white tea buds: Neige de Soie, from Mariage Frères, combines floral notes with the accents of scented rice, the whole sprinkled with safflower. The base is a Yin Zhen, the silver needles, the finest of China’s white teas, with silvery jade buds.

The declared composition combines white tea, pandanus, rose, lavender and safflower; the blend may contain traces of nuts. It is listed in the catalogue under the Jardin Premier label. The caffeine content is low.

Gentle throughout, the white tea releases each of its fresh and aromatic notes. The pandanus opens, with its scent of jasmine rice and green hazelnut; the rose and lavender follow, floral and discreet; the bud gives the texture, velvety and silky, and a faintly sweet impression. The liquor is clear, with discreet tannins, and the finish is long, which the house associates with landscapes of silence.

It is an afternoon tea, to be drunk plain, without sugar, in a fine cup. It goes with coconut rice pudding, a pandan dessert or rose biscuits, or can be enjoyed on its own. Infused cold, it yields a liquor of great delicacy.

Use 5 g per 200 ml of water at 85 °C and seven minutes’ steeping time; the generous measure and moderate temperature suit the light buds. Neige de Soie is weighed and packed to order in our shops in Bordeaux and Nice, from the 5 g sample to the kilo, in a bag designed to preserve its fragrance; afterwards, store it in an airtight container, away from light.