Jardin Bleu

This was sent to me by keychange in our swap.

The rhubarb comes through clearly here, and the base complements nicely. The strawberry gets lost in the rhubarb a bit, but it’s there in the background. A lovely tea to add to my French tea tastings.

Thanks keychange!

I’m trying to work my way through some of the samples JustJames sent me, as I’ve had them for a few months now, and they all smell delicious.

I enjoyed this tea, although my initial sips called to mind both Pour Maman by NP, as well as hints of FDA by Harney and sons. It smelled very much like the strawberry sauce that you’ll find on a sundae, and I know how popular those are, but I can’t say I like strawberry sauce all that much. I didn’t really get any rhubarb in either the smell or the taste, but because I’m terrified of anything that’s described as “tart”, the bit of sugar I added may have obliterated any tartness that may have been present. I also found the tea to be a bit thin, in the way I find many French teas to be, and sometimes it works beautifully and somehow makes the tea feel effortlessly elegant, but it can also render the composition a bit flat and one-dimensional, which was sadly my conclusion for this cup. Especially because I compare it to pour maman which I adore and must acquire more of.

Thanks again, JustJames! You are so not “just” anything—you’re wonderful and thoughtful and intense and amazing!

Este es un té negro saborizado, que mezcla variedades de té de China y Sri Lanka. Es un té muy aromático y floral, tiene un sabor dulce, achocolatado y con un leve toque licoroso.
Es una variedad ideal para darse un gusto refrescante, ya que aparte de tener flores de azulejo y pétalos maravilla, tiene un intenso aroma que mezcla frutilla y ruibarbo.
Si bien las flores le dan el cuerpo a este té, las frutas tienen notas que perduran por un largo rato en el retrogusto, sobretodo el ruibarbo, que queda dando vueltas en el paladar.
Es un té muy agradable, y que me llamó la atención por la presencia del ruibarbo, que cierra magistralmente las notas frescas de este blend, dejando este té de hoja de gran calidad (que viene en bolsa de cámara única), con carácterísticas muy equilibradas y dignas de la temporada estival.

The tea that made me fall in love with tea, and Paris. Sweet strawberries and cream, this black tea truly lights up with the addition of milk and a little sugar. If you want to feel like a princess, this blend is it.

I was initially put off by this tea..it smells sweet and flowery. But I’ve decided its not half bad. It doesn’t brew like it smells, but still has a light sweetness…more fruit than flower. I’ve mentally assigned this tea to an “afternoon tea” slot.

This is a perennial favourite at my house for many reasons. My wife and I discovered this at an all-night bistro on the night we met, and the taste and aromas added to the magic of that night – neither of us had ever tasted anything remotely like it.

Dammann Frères recently sent us a package of it as a gift for the tenth anniversary of that night. They are a wonderful company, and their teas are of an exceptional quality.

The strawberry aromas can seem over the top at first, and one expects a very fruity cup but the tartness of the rhubarb and mild hints of vanilla mellow it. The black tea is mild and produces a pleasing reddish liquor. It is pleasant chilled in the summer, and wonderful hot with a drop or two of milk. No sweetener necessary.