78 Tasting Notes

90
drank Miss Dammann by Dammann Frères
78 tasting notes

Advent calendar – day 5

I drank this one late this afternoon, and I probably should have made it in the morning when I wanted something fresh and light. I like this tea. It’s pretty soft and not at all in your face. The lime and ginger blend nicely. No grassy taste for me —I brewed it at a lower temperature than they recommended so that might have helped. I had a difficult time tasting the rhubarb, grapefruit or passion fruit. I could only taste a light fruitiness. It’s another green tea that I really liked but I don’t think I would necessarily purchase it. But I have a second sample of this one so I might try it again and see if I change my mind :p

Flavors: Fruity, Ginger, Lime

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

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79

Dammann advent calendar, day 4.
Such a Christmas-y black tea. The sweet orange, nutmeg and cinnamon bring the holiday season front and center but in truth, although I like them, those are not the flavors I crave generally, so it might bias me a bit. I will say that while it’s similar in terms of ingredients to H&S’s Hot Spice, the orange is much more present here than in Hot Spice thankfully. I definitely enjoyed my cup but I can’t imagine drinking it any other time of the year, and I much prefer Esprit de Noel from Mariage Freres which feels much more layered and special than this one. Still, I was glad to try it and I would not refuse a cup if a friend served it :)

Flavors: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Orange

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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81

Day 3 of the Advent Calendar. I like mint and I love licorice candy so this was right up my flavor alley. Plus I have been struggling to find an evening tea I can have. I actually have some Dammann Freres licorice tea that I love so I was wondering what the addition of the mint would do to my beloved tea. as it turns out, I thought the mint was delicious with the licorice. It softens everything and makes it a little fresher. Overall it’s a very straightforward tea. It’s simple but it’s good. I agree with Maddy Barone, it would be a great tea to have on hand after a heavy meal. So while it may not be a taste I crave all the time, it was a very good cup of tea and I’ll be happy to get a little bit at some point.

Flavors: Licorice, Mint, Spearmint

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 6 min, 0 sec

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87

Advent Calendar Day 2 ( and repost from correct account). I tend to prefer black teas and I don’t love bergamot so maybe my expectations were low, but I thought this tea was delicious! The combination of bergamot and orange blossom with peach and the violet makes for a wonderful cup of tea. I thought maybe there was some yuzu in there, but I think that might have been the kiwi. It is perfumey but it works beautifully with the fruitiness. I didn’t find it grassy at all which was wonderful. Definitely one that we’re adding to the “Buy List”.

Flavors: Bergamot, Flowers, Orange Blossom, Peach, Violet

Flavors: Bergamot, Flowers, Orange Blossom, Peach, Violet

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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70
drank Granola d'Hiver by Dammann Frères
78 tasting notes

First year I get to enjoy Dammann Freres’s beautiful Advent Calendar (I was so excited I got one for everyone in the house!!!). Granola d’Hiver was Day 1. I love dessert teas or “thés gourmands” and this is a nice way to start. I like this tea. It’s sweet and soft. I can’t say that I love it, but I’m absolutely enjoying it!

I’m not very good at describing teas, but to me it tastes a bit like caramel popcorn with raisins. I get the sweetness of raisins and a little bit of nuttiness and maple syrup, a some toastiness (is that even an english word?). This tea is a little reminiscent of Nina’s Japon with its toasted rice and sweetness but Granola d’hiver is a little more fruity. It’s even more enjoyable as it cools.

I would not necessarily buy some next time I’m home in Paris because I like other dessert teas even more, but I’m so glad I tried it and I would be happy to sip a second cup if DD decides to pass hers on to me :p

Sorry for the duplicate note, I realized after I posted it that I had done it from my husband’s laptop under a different username. So I took it down and just now reposted it under my normal one so I don’t get confused :)

Flavors: Maple Syrup, Nutty, Raisins, Sweet, Toasted Rice, Toasty

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Cameron B.

I thought about getting Dammann’s calendar this year, but I had already ordered several so I held off. I have really enjoyed it in the past, though. Next year it’s your turn, DF! ;)

lizwykys

ooh, I’ve been so curious about this one! I tried the Granola d’Été, which I didn’t really care for, so it will be interesting to see the general feeling about this one from people who got the calendar. (I didn’t, but next year maybe I’ll manage to budget for it!)

EmmaM

It has been so fun trying it after reading so many posts on here about their advent calendar. You all inspired me!!! :p So far I am not disappointed at all.

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85
drank Réglisse by Dammann Frères
78 tasting notes

This tea was unexpectedly delicious. I like licorice but was not sure about a licorice tea. Still we picked up a sample at the Dammann freres store and had to come back to get 100gr. before catching our plane the following week. It’s light and straight forward licorice, but it makes for a delicious afternoon tea. More desert like than the Licorice infusion by Yogi Tea.

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82
drank Coup de Soleil by Mariage Frères
78 tasting notes

I so love the desert by the same name and this is definitely desert in a cup. The cream, the red fruits and the caramel make for a delicious combination, but it’s very soft. Maybe too soft and light. I wish it had a bit more body I think.

And while I like this tea, it’s not sold in bulk, but in a special 90g tin which is a bit too pricey for a tea that’s very good but not exceptional. To me, it’s very similar to Dammann Freres’s Paul and Virginie in terms of flavor profile (which I love) at a very reasonable price point. All in all, I’d rather stop by the tea house to savor the desert and drink Paul and Virginie at home ;p

Flavors: Burnt Sugar, Caramel, Cream, Red Fruits

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93
drank Pecan Pie by Dammann Frères
78 tasting notes

I just love this tea! It’s not the most sophisticated, delicate blend, but it’s so so good! Un thé très très gourmand!

I’m not sure how accurate the name really is. I definitely taste more almonds/marzipan, hazelnut and pistachio than I do pecans, but I don’t mind since I’m not crazy about real pecan pie which I find too sugary usually. But I do get the biscuit and honeyed sweetness, so this feels more like a “Inspired by the nuttiness and richness of Pecan Pie” than “Based on true Pecan Pie” rendition.

Bottom line, I just love all the nuttiness and pastry flavor. All my favorite flavors in one tea! So easy to drink!

It sounds like it should be a fall tea, but I catch myself reaching for it all year long, even in the summer when I want to indulge in something that feels rich and sweet. It’s like chocolate. Is there really a season for all this nutty goodness???? There can’t be!

Flavors: Almond, Hazelnut, Marzipan, Nutty, Pastries, Pecan, Sweet

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

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Profile

Bio

I started drinking tea in 2018 when a friend introduced me to flavored black teas. Since then, I have developed a bit of a tea addiction. I never want to be without the teas I love, but I’m perpetually compelled to try new ones…

I started with French tea companies like Mariage Freres, Dammann Freres, Kusmi, Nina’s, and TheOdor, because I’m French and it makes me feel closer to home, but I would love to find tea companies I love as much on this side of the Atlantic.

I’m partial to dessert teas and in terms of flavors, I adore almond, pistachio, biscuit, nutty types, as well as caramel, cream, cake, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, and cookies. For me, it’s all about drinking my dessert!!! I also like fruity teas like peach, melon, mango, raspberry, strawberry, figs, and even grapefruit flavored teas. I am discovering more floral teas and testing the waters there, but I don’t care for earl greys or chai. I have not expanded into unflavored teas yet, but maybe one day.

For full disclosure I like my tea with a little sugar/sweetener.

Tea ratings: (I’m not a tough customer and I don’t have a very sophisticated palate.)

96-100: Pure deliciousness and all-time favourite teas.

90-95: Love love love. Delicious teas I reach for all the time.

80-89: Good to great teas I’d drink any day of the week.

75-79: Good teas that I would be happy to drink from time to time.

70-74: Teas that are just ok for me. They’re not bad teas, but not my preference.

60-69: Maybe good for someone else but definitely not my thing.

50-59: Drinkable

1-49: Just no.

Location

North Carolina, USA

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