Crowkettle Send Message

While I enjoy sharp, bold, smoky teas I don’t drink them often enough to justify buying loose leaf; I buy it by the “to go” cup. With covid lockdowns last year, and me no longer working in the immediate vicinity, I missed my annual ritual of going down to New West’s River Market and picking up a cup to go in the fall/winter months. I didn’t mean to go today either, but when the transit gods lead you somewhere you graciously accept your blessings. I managed to pick up my sister’s preferred Double Earl Grey at the same time, so win-win!

That’s how I ended waving away the bus driver I didn’t expect so soon, while clutching a cup of slightly over-steeped smoke tea (I’m not bringing this almost-sentient campfire on board to harass fellow passengers, no. lol. My tea’s name is Calcifer). I only had to wait an extra 10 minutes for the next one. It was chill and it let me spend extra time in my favourite place, overlooking the Fraser Delta as the sun dips below the horizon (ie- 22nd Station. I don’t know why this place makes me so happy but it does).

Mariage Frères Advent 2021 – Day 22

Mmm… this is a fine smoked tea. Besides the delicious smoky malt flavours, it also contains some caramelized fruit and vanilla-esque notes. Dates is an accurate descriptor. I wonder if I added milk if this would taste like a smoked date milkshake (out of every kind of milk atm, so it’s not happening). So tasty. I’d be tempted to get more of this.

My tea bag tag says this is “gently smoked over guava leaves.” Interesting.

My mom can’t drink this one; smoked teas are her “nope”. More for me!

Dammann Frères Advent 2021 – Day 16

Smells like carrot cake but was out to lunch drinking this last night. I tasted… rooibos? Sorry, tea.

Dammann Frères Advent 2021 – Day 20

I was worried this would be anise-heavy from the dry leaf aroma, but it’s more like a cozy lemon marshmallow cloud with anise accents. I’m enjoying this one, and wish it had fallen on one of the days I felt the sickest last week. It’s soothing.

Mom says “tastes like licorice.” So anise is definitely still a key player.

Dammann Frères Advent 2021 – Day 21

This Christmas tea is a fruitcake! I can accept the cherries here because pineapple and caramel. The black tea base is smooth malt, with no briskness or astringency. For once, DF’s orange vivid orange essential oil isn’t stealing the show, but it’s not hiding either. What a bright tea on an extremely dark day.

I’m also super pleased that DF doesn’t throw hibiscus into the vast majority of their festive blends. It’s been a good advent.

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!

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

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:

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.

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.