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I liked this one more than I expected. The combination of orange/citrus, blackcurrant and red fruits was lovely in fact. The citronella and bergamot were both very light which I really appreciated. Overall, it was a dainty and feminine cup of tea I thought. Very enjoyable!

Oh my goodness, how I love this tea! Such a delicious dessert tea; it’s beautiful to look at with its flowers and it smells so good. Brewed at 195, it’s almondy pastry or cookie mixed with poppy candy. It’s fruity/raspberry-ish, and floral, and has that almond/marzipan taste I love so much in dessert teas.

I think if I had to give a Dammann Freres tea as a gift to someone who is not that into tea, this one would be one of my top 5 if they had a sweet tooth. I can’t imagine them not loving the taste of a raspberry tartelette on an almond butter crust in a cup!

This is my second sample of this tea (Day 7 in the After Holidays calendar) and I have to say I enjoyed it much more the second time so I upped the rating. In truth, I think my issue the first time was not so much the tea but my not being in the habit of drinking chai tea or even spicy teas in general.

As it is, while it’s not my usual cup of tea, it’s actually lovely —especially as it cools and with a little stevia. The ginger-cardamon combination is well done and it’s not at all in your face. It’s light and approachable. And I didn’t find it vegetal this time, just spicy and light. It is probably exactly what a chai tea is supposed to be about: spices.

I think I might have changed my mind about this one!

Based on the ingredients, I knew this was a ways away from my usual fruity teas or dessert teas, but this was a fun sample to try. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. And I think if I wasn’t feeling well, I might reach for it.

A delightful surprise from Le Calendrier de l’Apres from Dammann Freres this year. This was Day 2.

I tried to find a translation for “Coup de coeur” in English but it’s giving me “heart stroke”. Not at all the feeling this tea gives me!!! But in French it means “Wow, I love it!” —much more in line with where I was going! ;p

Dry, it smells heavenly: fruity and fresh. Delightful kiwi. It’s quite strong and direct.

Brewed, the kiwi is softer but still deliciously present, and the green tea is most definitely there. I brewed it at 185 F for 2 min and 15 seconds because I was afraid it might go all wrong for me (I’m not a green tea person) and I’m glad I did. The kiwi flavor danses very well with the green tea. It’s both vegetal and fruity, but the green tea does not overpower the kiwi. It’s more that they make each other better.

I think someone who loves green tea would still love this one because the fruit doesn’t drown the sencha either. It’s very balanced.

I love the brightness of the kiwi and it reminds me a little of what Lupicia would create (minus the oolong slant): clean, fruity, fabulous tea . So delicious, I did not want my cup to end!

I bet it would taste fabulous iced (if I knew how to do it and make it come out right)

My favorite carcadet so far! This was a lovely cup!

I was not a big fan of any of the carcadet from Dammann’s Advent Calendar, but this one from Le Calendrier de l’Apres is actually delicious. The hibiscus is softer than in the other ones I have tried, and the raspberry is clean and bright. Dry, it smells like a delicious raspberry candy, but in the cup it’s more natural. The passion fruit is a little less present but it’s a lovely addition, making it feel a little bit more tropical. A great blend for something sweet and fruity in the evening. Simple and delicious. A trip back to childhood. Coup de coeur.

Advent Calendar Day 24

I cheated as I ordered this one as a 100gr bag when I placed my order for my advent calendars so I could have it all season long. It was actually my husband’s pick since he loves fruit cakes while I had picked Noel a Prague. But I’m so glad he suggested it because I really like it. At first I wasn’t sold on it. It was definitely dessert-ish and Christmasy but I wasn’t sure if I would want it a lot. As it turns out, the more I had it, the more I reached for it throughout the month of December. It’s a delicious tea!

To me it is very reminiscent of the flavors you find in a Stolen or a Norwegian Christmas bread: candied fruits with a bit of caramel sweetness and cake-ish background. It’s not a tea I would crave in the summer, but it felt so right around the holidays when you yearn for those sweet flavors. I can’t pick out the pineapple as easily as I do the candied cherries and oranges, but it’s very smooth and delicious (and not fussy at all in terms of brewing). Definitely one we are likely to reorder next year in the fall!

Advent Calendar – Day 23

I wanted to love this one. A Pear tea sounded so fabulous. But I’m afraid I only liked it. Maybe it was too delicate for me to appreciate. I think maybe I expected more fruitiness but even with a little sweetener it was very light. Still it was a very good cup of tea. I just wish it had blown me away. Looking forward to trying it again since DD gave me her sample :)

Advent Calendar Day 22

I enjoyed this nice cup of green tea. I thought it was pretty straight forward: orange and gingerbread. Maybe candied orange? I didn’t get much else, but I liked the lack of grassiness and it was quite light. Another fun try.