The thirteen desserts of Christmas in Provence are set out on the table on the evening of 24 December: dried fruit, candied fruit, nougat, calissons, and one tastes a little of everything. Noël in Love brings their flavours together in a velvety, mellow blue tea, which Mariage Frères presents in a case of thirty round cotton muslin sachets, net weight 75 g.

The ingredient list includes blue tea, a flavouring, rose petals and blue flowers; it appears in full on the case and on this page. The rose petals are the signature of the In Love collection, and the case, in bright colours, hides little hearts for those who know how to spot them.

In the cup, the liquor is golden. Fruity notes of hazelnut, citrus and candied fruit are wrapped in hints of nougat and calisson, according to the house; the partly oxidised oolong gives it a silky texture and buttery sweetness. The cup is soft and indulgent, and the blue tea keeps it lighter than a black Christmas tea.

It is drunk in the afternoon and evening during the festivities, plain, with calissons, nougat, mendiants, a slice of pompe à l’huile. It takes a splash of milk, and remains pleasant well after January.

For preparation, allow 1 muslin sachet for 200 ml of water at 95 °C and 4 minutes’ infusion. The blend may contain traces of tree nuts. Noël in Love in muslin sachets is available at La Boutique du Thé, official Mariage Frères stockist since 1999 in Bordeaux and Nice; keep the case closed, away from light and odours.