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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
Thanks Evol <3
@Kittenna, looking forward to reading your thoughts on this one, and any of the others. :)