Carcadet de Noël

This was a free sample with my order (thank you!). Should I have used it as someone’s stocking stuffer? Probably. But here we are.

This tea is hibby first, with some complimentary spices and nuts to create that “Christmas feel” (no mistaking it for anything but). I think I’d prefer if the hibiscus was toned down a tad, but also think I’d feel more inclined to this profile in a few weeks – when it’s nippy out or during a ski trip (I miss skiing so much). It has something in common with mulled wine! I’m sure I’ll get to revisit this during the advent calendar though so all is not squandered yet (withholding rating until then!).

Dammann Frères Advent Day 8 (7-February 2021)

Lexa didn’t want a black tea today, so we swapped days 7&8.

I’m struggling to determine what exactly I’m tasting, but I can say I’m not really enjoying it.

The tea is a lovely pink colour from the hibiscus and there’s some tartness from the hibiscus, but then things start getting lost. There seems to be a hint of spice that’s most likely the peppercorns. There’s an odd scent that comes into the taste that makes me think of flat, warm cream soda pop. No thanks!

Dammann Frères Advent 2021 – Day 14
This one is like drinking a spiced fruit punch jolly rancher. The hibiscus is definitely there, and I wish it was just a smidge softer, but the fruit punch flavors and spices balance it out pretty well. I do love the cardamon in this fruit tea.

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar – Day 8

What a pretty and festive wrapper! White with red foil stripes, like a candy cane. Despite this, I am not excited for this one. As far as I know, “carcadet” is Dammann code for fruit tisane. And those have never been favorites of mine… It smells pleasant enough though, with fruit and spices and a bit of tartness.

This steeped up a deep hibiscus red-purple (not a great sign for me, LOL). It’s honestly not half bad. The vague fruitiness combined with the hibiscus sort of approximates cranberry for me, and there is some pleasant mild spicing of cardamom and ginger. It is quite tart, but not quite sour enough to make me pucker.

It’s fine, but still a fruit tisane with hibiscus, of which there are many. I admit to being highly amused that on the Dammann website, it says “Main flavor: Hibiscus”. ROFL, well it’s definitely accurate! XD

Advent 8.

Smells a lot like Flocons d’Épices which means vanilla-spice cola syrup, though this has a tartness to it like lemon-lime. It really does smell like soda to me. And pink bubblegum. A ribbon of bitter almond hiding underneath. My first thought when sipping was warm Christmas punch :) The hibiscus is perfectly tart, not acrid or biting at all. Awesome flavors, really nice for an hibiscus-rosehip blend!