When the evenings shorten and you look for a warm cup without caffeine, Rouge d’Automne Rouge arrives just in time. Mariage Frères pairs it with a red rooibos from South Africa, naturally caffeine-free, with the scents of noble chestnuts candied in sugar and Bourbon vanilla: the marron glacé in a cup.

The declared composition combines red rooibos, flavourings, cocoa and almond; almond appears as an ingredient, and the blend may contain traces of tree nuts. It is listed in the catalogue under the Jardin Premier label. Rooibos is not a tea but a shrub from the Cape, whose fermented needles give a red, round infusion, low in tannins.

The cup is smooth, warm and festive. The candied chestnut dominates, with its sweetness on the palate and an almost floury texture on the nose; the Bourbon vanilla rounds it off; the cocoa adds a depth that leans towards confectionery. The house also detects fruity and slightly spiced notes, which keep the whole from feeling heavy. The finish is long, warm and free of added sugar.

It is an evening tea, or an autumn afternoon tea, that goes well with a pear tart, roasted chestnuts or chocolate cream. It is drunk plain, or with a cloud of milk that makes it almost a dessert. Children and those who avoid caffeine readily adopt it.

Allow 2.5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and five minutes of steeping; rooibos never becomes bitter. Rouge d’Automne Rouge 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 aromas; then store it in a closed tin, in a dry place.