1430 Tasting Notes

76
drank Mango Ice Cream by 52teas
1430 tasting notes

Twelve Days of Tea 2021 – Day Eight

This started off on the brisk side but “chilled out” as it cooled a bit. Now it has delicious sweet vanilla cream flavour, similar to Walter Bishop’s Milkshake flavouring. I like this.

The mango is a greener type – one that I associate with the strong smell of the skin, and the bitter tang of the peel on sweet flesh. It’s clearly and vividly mango to my palate but almost a savoury kind. Mango is tricky and its flavouring transforms as my cup’s temperature changes. Looking forward to revisiting the rest of my pouch in the near future!

Flavors: Cream, Malt, Mango, Sweet, Tangy, Vanilla

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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Mariage Frères Advent 2021 – Day 21

Happy Solstice!!

I thought I smelled a Milk Oolong in here (yes, I sniffed my advent to try to “sneak peak” what it included)! So, this is the only oolong I want to see from MF at this point of the calendar. Its established, classic taste is one I never fail to enjoy – regardless of quality. I opened up the sachet and it contains some broken leaf but that’s par for the course with tea baggies. No big whoop. Still tasty.

Silky, buttery, vegetal, mineral, and vaguely sweet in a way that could be partially accounted for by MF fruit flavouring cross contamination – this cup satisfies in a way the other oolong teas in this advent did not. Happy to see such a tea!

Steep Count: 2

Flavors: Butter, Milk, Mineral, Smooth, Vegetal

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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81

Twelve Days of Tea 2021 – Day Four

What a neat concept (that I didn’t expect to enjoy)! This tea reminds me so much of the fruit cakes found at Maxim’s bakery (ie – a stellar Chinese bakery chain around here that often uses Tangerine as a topping decoration .. and I wish I had some, or their buns, to pair with this tea).

This is a far less cloying take on the dessert/cupcake concept, and I’m appreciating the combo of clean citrus and richer dessert notes more than I can convey right now (ditto for this whole 12 days box; I don’t remember ever enjoying the teas so much in past years). The black tea base is solid too. Good tea!

My mom rates this 11/10 and stole my cup. You’ve had 52teas before, Mom! D:

Flavors: Cake, Citrus, Malt, Marshmallow, Tangerine, Vanilla

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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Dammann Frères Advent 2021 – Day 19

Yes, I prefer this to Mon Petit Chocolat because my hang-up towards almond is more severe than I thought it was (unless that almond tries to be marzipan; then I love it). Drinking it with milk, so can’t comment on how thin it is; the milk bulks out the chocolate-like hazelnut, although it still starts off pretty gentle. As I work through the pot, there is a honey-caramel component to the finish that reminds me all the world of a Cadbury Crunchie bar.

EDIT: there was enough leftover in the pot to try without milk and, I don’t know – but I like it too? It’s different though. Not as much hazelnut, more woody Keemun and Crunchie bar. Something about this tea is drying, which is fine. I like Keemun and have happy vague travel memories associated with it.

Flavors: Caramel, Chocolate, Floral, Hazelnut, Honey, Malt, Sweet, Wood

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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Mariage Frères Advent 2021 – Day 20

Uh… at least this Rhapsody is on the website and not something that makes me question my sanity.

This also marks this advent’s second “Earl Grey” without a black tea base (oolong, and now white base). It’s enjoyable because the bergamot (and whatever flavouring is going on here) closely parrots the experience of an earl grey with milk (even though I added no milk). The milk note comes from a smooth sweet taste that I associate with lactose sugar. So, it’s not bad but I’m a little over the “RHAPSODY” and “IN LOVE” series. I wanted to try Bolero.

Flavors: Bergamot, Floral, Milk, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Dustin

That last Rhapsody was so weird with it not even being on MF’s website!

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75

Dammann Frères Advent 2021 – Day 18

Like a cousin to to August Uncommon’s Dark Iris: violets, peach, umm.. other fruits?(definitely citrus) It has the Bellini/ fuzzy peaches vibe to it. Sweet, smooth, aromatic florals, candied fruits…

The tea base is likely a Chinese Sencha but it’s not bugging me too much today. Every once in a while this green base uplifts the kiwi. But for me, this is predominantly citrus/peach fronted for the fruit. I’m enjoying it but wouldn’t go out of my way buy any!

Flavors: Bergamot, Candy, Citrus, Floral, Kiwi, Orange Blossom, Peach, Vegetal, Violet

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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Dammann Frères Advent 2021 – Day 17

I’m behind on DF. Didn’t want to (and couldn’t) drink them while still nauseous – they’re generally lovely but perfumed, which is not a good mix with lingering food poisoning. So now I have four teas tonight! (scratch that. I got to two of them)

This one is pretty sweet, almost cloyingly so! “Blueberry and maple want to drip all over your pancakes and waffles” levels of sweet (I’m drinking this with the “breakfast for dinner,” so good pairing). Also, chestnuts, but they’re pretty subtle here. It’s a nice tea without milk, but in effort to cut the sweetness I’m taking it with! Still good.

Flavors: Blueberry, Chestnut, Malt, Maple Syrup, Sweet

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Courtney

Ooh, fascinating! Another I’ve waffled over in my DF cart haha.

Courtney

Also, I’m glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better!

Crowkettle

Thank you :)

This is very much a blueberry (syrup) tea. This might work for you if you’re in the mood for something sweeter; I’m still not quite up for this level of sweetness. :P

Courtney

Intriguing! I do love a blueberry jam (and all blueberry things). :) Thanks for the tip!

Evol Ving Ness

Also, yay you, for feeling better!

I find the abundant flavouring of French teas a bit much after a couple of days, even with the teas that I adore. I’m taking a wee break and drinking straight or simple teas for a bit.

Crowkettle

Agreed. The French teas are not everyday drinkers, and I’ve found myself craving the “builder” teas that gmathis loves. I want something brisk and honest these days :P

Evol Ving Ness

Exactly. But yesterday’s simple strawberry black was a bit boring after all the froufrou.

EmmaM

Glad you are feeling better.

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drank Flower Moon by Mariage Frères
1430 tasting notes

Mariage Frères Advent 2021 – Day 19

A blue oolong?! Nooo way…

At least this one has festive spices and almond flavouring. I think I pick up some super light cloves and cinnamon among the “sweet spices” – possibly some ginger (MF does spice blending well; it’s a good level of sweet and hot and it’s hard to discern the different spices). There’s something almost salty and marzipan-lite going on here too. It’s probably the first tea in this advent that feels winter festive! The base just isn’t doing anything for it though, beyond adding smooth oolong vegetal vagueness.

I wouldn’t buy it for myself but I’d definitely drink more if it was around, especially as a seasonal thing.

My mom rates this a 10/10. Love you, Mom.

Flavors: Almond, Cinnamon, Clove, Floral, Nutty, Smooth, Spices, Sweet, Vegetal

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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Mariage Frères Advent 2021 – Day 18

After so much fancy blue oolong froufrou, a simple black tea with a squeeze of lemon-like citrus is a lovely addition. Although, MF manages to touch upon the art of perfume even with this blend. I’ve no clue why this is “Russian” though. Not an iota.

Enjoyed this with milk, like a breakfast tea, this morning – but it’s light enough to be had without.

Flavors: Citrus, Malt

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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80

Twelve Days of Tea 2021 – Day Three

I’ve always wanted to try this blend since Frank’s version but we always seemed to be “star-crossed”. Not this year however! gmathis is right; honeybush is meant for ice cream flavours.

It’s pretty tasty. I enjoyed it most yesterday afternoon, when I got excellent strawberry yogurt (or milkshake) flavours. Tonight it’s good strawberry, liquid sweet, with “almost cream”. I’m still having nausea problems in the evenings though, and I haven’t really enjoyed a single tea I’ve had at night in the last two days. So, I figure it’s not worth trying to catch or keep up with these advents. Going to take it slow and enjoy daylight tea~

Flavors: Creamy, Strawberry, Sweet, Vanilla, Yogurt

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 8 min or more
Evol Ving Ness

So sorry to hear that you are still feeling unsettled. <3

Kittenna

Oooh, looking forward to revisiting this one. I think I had some of the original blend, but can’t really remember what I thought of it.

Crowkettle

Thanks Evol <3

@Kittenna, looking forward to reading your thoughts on this one, and any of the others. :)

Kittenna

My box is on its way now!!! (Anne very graciously combined shipping with my subs/other orders, with the tradeoff that I get the teas a bit late.) I don’t even know which to try first; I am so thrilled about this year’s selections.

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Profile

Bio

I started my Steepster loose leaf adventure back in 2012. I can’t say I’m completely new anymore, but I still view oolong as a magical, extraterrestrial creature that unfurls in water.

My favourites are teas like Milk Oolong, Silver Needle,and Japanese Sencha/Gyokuro, or fruity and floral flavoured ones. However, I generally enjoy ALL the teas, including a good old cup of Earl Grey or Breakfast blend.

FAVOURITE INGREDIENTS/NOTES:

DESSERT FLAVOURS
Vanilla, Maple, Caramel, Butterscotch, Cream, Toffee, Nougat, Marzipan, Butter

FRUIT & BERRIES
Citrus Fruits, Passionfruit, Banana, Pineapple, Melons, Blackberry, Raspberry, Currants, Elderberry, Persimmon, Rhubarb..

SPICES
Ginger, Turmeric, Clove-forward chai, Cardamom

AROMATIC & HERBACEOUS NOTES
Sandalwood, Frankincense, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Mints

FLORALS
Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Lilac, Violet, etc.

VEGGIE/GRAIN NOTES
Spinach, Grass, Hay, Cucumber, Rice, Sweet Potato

Less Preferred Flavours/Ingredients:
Stevia, Apple, Cocoa Nib, Almond, Licorice, Cinnamon-forward blends, Chinese Sencha

Subjective Rating System:
I don’t give a lot of low ratings out, since a) I tend to grab tea I know will appeal to me, and b) I don’t have a lot of strong dislikes.

90-100: Favourites. The Desert Island Teas.
80-89: Loved teas. Possibly staple-worthy.
70-79: Good teas, but I’m less likely to repurchase. Minor quibbles.
60-69: Ok teas. Likely a few preference and/or quality issues.
50-59: Cup of meh. Will do in a pinch.
11-49: Varying levels of undrinkable tea.
1-10: Nightmare tea from the chaos realms. This tea is the embodiment of the primordial swamp, an unholy abomination. It’s very gross and I’m almost positive it doesn’t exist.

Location

BC, Canada

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