Dammann Frères Verveine Verbena Herbal Infusion — 24 Cristal Sachets

🍵 The Infusion — Pure dried verbena leaves from Dammann Frères, one of France's oldest tea houses, presented in 24 of their signature Cristal sachets for a clean, unfussy brew

🍵 The Colour — A luminous pale gold in the cup, with a fresh, citrus-bright aroma that rises immediately as hot water meets the leaf

🍵 The Character — Gently lemony and softly fruity, with a natural sweetness and delicate herbal warmth — refreshing without being sharp, calming without being heavy

🍵 The Occasion — Wonderful after a meal to aid digestion, and equally at home as an evening cup — caffeine-free, beautifully scented, and effortlessly elegant

Verveine — the French word for verbena — holds a special place in the herbal traditions of France, where a cup of this pale gold infusion after dinner is as natural and unhurried as the meal itself. Dammann Frères Verveine is one of the most refined expressions of this beloved herb available in the UK, offering verbena's characteristic lemony brightness and gentle herbal warmth in the house's signature Cristal sachets — 24 individually enveloped, ready for when the moment calls for something calm and fragrant.

Verbena, known botanically as Aloysia citrodora, has been cultivated and revered for centuries. Native to the hillsides of South America, it was brought to Europe by explorers in the 17th century and quickly found its place in French herbal tradition, where it became a staple of the evening table. The Romans and Greeks had long considered the plant sacred, and it was harvested after flowering — the point at which its fragrance and natural oils are at their most intense.

The flavour is softly lemony and fruity, with a natural sweetness that needs no sugar. It is lighter and less austere than peppermint, more rounded than lemongrass, and carries a gentle herbal note that lingers warmly in the finish. The liquor itself is a clear, delicate gold — subtle and beautiful in the cup.

Dammann Frères was established in Paris in 1925 and traces its heritage to 1692, when the Dammann family first began trading in tea and spices. Today the house is one of the most respected names in French tea, with its Cristal sachets — a pyramid format developed by the Jumeau-Lafond family — recognised as one of the most effective ways to brew a full, even infusion from a sachet. Each one is individually enveloped to protect the verbena's delicate aromatics until the moment of use.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists. With over 350 teas and infusions — one of the largest collections in the country — we select only the finest from the world's most trusted producers, and Dammann Frères has been a cornerstone of that range from the beginning.

Ingredients: Verbena (verveine).

Brewing Note: Verbena is best treated gently. Place one sachet in your cup and pour water that has just come off the boil — fully boiling at 100°C is ideal for this infusion, and there is no risk of bitterness. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes; the full steeping time allows the dried verbena to release its natural oils and develop its characteristic citrus warmth. Resist the temptation to cut it short. Remove the sachet without pressing it, which can occasionally introduce a faintly astringent note. This infusion is also lovely served cold — brew a stronger cup using two sachets, allow it to cool, then pour over ice for a refreshing summer drink.