The guiding thread of Rooibos Maté Fleuve d'Orange Bio is orange, which runs from one end of the cup to the other like a river: hence the name. Yet it makes up only a modest part of the blend, 6% peel, complemented by a natural orange flavouring.

Two plants from two continents form the base. Natural rooibos from South Africa brings the woody roundness; green maté from Brazil, the leaf of a South American holly, brings the herbal lift and the caffeine. This blend is therefore best reserved for the morning and the day. Liquorice root, from China or Uzbekistan, ginger, fennel and cardamom complete the composition, whose plants come from organic farming.

Copper and green, the dry leaves smell of zest and meadow. The orange-amber liquor opens on the woodiness of the rooibos, lets through the light bitterness of the maté, then the liquorice brings a natural sweetness that softens the whole. The ginger and cardamom remain in the background; the orange, for its part, accompanies every sip.

Use a little more generously than average: 17 to 20 grams per litre, which gives 8.5 to 10 grams per 500 ml. The water, for its part, stays moderate, only 70 to 80°C, and the infusion stretches over seven to ten minutes. It goes with an orange cake, madeleines, or a honey yoghurt; in summer, it lends itself happily to the iced carafe.

Store it in a closed, opaque container: the orange peel will better keep its scent.