1711 Tasting Notes
After reading some of the underwhelming reviews of this tea I thought I’d start by doubling the amount of dry leaf in my cup. I figured it would amp up the flavor and maybe it did, but it doesn’t make it delicious or really even enjoyable. I can taste a bit of mint on the sip and a tiny bit of chocolate on the aftertaste, but it really isn’t anything interesting at all. Pity.
Preparation
I placed a black Friday order with Butiki and have been anxiously waiting for at least a week for my cold to pass and my sense of taste to return so I can drink some tea. It has been brutal and cruel in the sense that it takes away my enjoyment of drinking tea and unfortunately seems to be becoming a more regular part of me being sick. :/
The good news is that I can finally taste a little today! It has been too long since I have had this tea, but it is the best chocolate orange combo I have found. The part that struck me the most today was the base in this tea. Other than it being really smooth, well rounded and balanced, I don’t know how to properly describe how lovely it is. It reminds me of some of the French teas I have had where the base had this particular satisfying quality about it. I can’t wait until I can again taste it in all it’s glory!
I got a sample of this with my order today!
I think my sense of taste is a little off from being sick and I’m not a huge fan of David’s teas, so I may be a little rough on this poor tea! It smells pretty good dry. I’m picking out almond and rooibos. My first few sips tasted like nothing, but it seems to be picking up some flavor as it cools. I’m getting almond on the aftertaste. I think I can taste some of the coconut and I’m getting the feeling that it may be a tea that I’d like to explore in the future when I can taste things more clearly. In the mean time it is helping keep me warm on a cold day!
Preparation
Day 7 of the advent calendar.
I was surprised when I opened this bag of tea. I really didn’t smell anything. I hope it isn’t my sore throat morphing into a head cold and ruining my sense of smell and taste! When it is brewed I can smell a little more, cinnamon mostly, but it is very subtle. I can taste cinnamon and a little fruit, but that is it. As always, the tea from DM is very smooth, but I don’t even taste the tea in this one. I wish I could amp it up a little. I’m starting to think the flavors of DM teas are far to delicate for my taste. Still, this calendar is a fun and great way to try out a company’s teas!
Preparation
This tea smells incredible dry! Red fruity and juicy. The water turned pink as soon as I put the bag in my cup which makes me weary about my old foe… hibiscus. It is tart, but a bit of sugar makes the hibiscus tolerable for the most part. The fruitiness is good, but there is a lingering taste at the end that I don’t like and can’t put my finger on. Not a fan of herbals.
Preparation
Day 5 of the advent calendar?
I’m smelling chocolate and raspberry in the dry tea? Like the other DM teas, it is very smooth, but thankfully lacks the citrus that has been prominent in all the other teas in the calendar. It is a nice break. There is a honey like scent once brewed and a subtle caramel chocolate flavor. I can’t pick out any other flavors, but so far this one is my favorite.
Preparation
Day 6 of the advent calendar.
Dry, the tea smells citrusy, like an Earl Grey. What is with all these DM teas having citrus in them?! The taste is silky smooth and doesn’t have that unbalanced bite that some teas with orange have. It is good, but not amazing. It is just a smooth black tea with orange.
I love the presentation of this company. I love the black tins, the design they use to frame the name of the teas and that they put out an advent calendar, but I’m still waiting to fall in love with the tea.
Preparation
Perhaps your palette is more bold? French teas in general tend to be more refined, gentle, complex but light. I think that’s why I have the opposite feeling towards other companies with their teas. I find the flavours aren’t as developed. I feel like with tea, I’m a judge on Chopped and I’m critiquing the harmony of the flavours working together (LOL.)
It may be more bold, but I have enjoyed many other teas from French companies which is why I expected to enjoy these more. I found them very smooth and well blended, but with more pronounced flavors and more interesting mixes than the DM teas. Still hoping to find some winners in this mix!
Ah okay, DM is more subtle I guess. I’ve never had their teas, I just know I prefer French teas generally and have been shying away from other companies lately. For example DT. I use to like them a lot more, and can’t help but be suckered into their marketing, however I am not enjoying their teas that much anymore.
Just had a thought… how much water are you using for the sachets? They are somewhat smaller than typical pyramid sachets and I find that they turn out best with only 8oz of water.
In the past 6 months or so I have tried teas from The O Dor, Nina’s, Marriage Freres and Les Palias De Thes (I’m probably butchering the spelling here) and they were all a bit more flavorful than DM. There are a couple of DT’s teas that I like, but I found a large portion of them to be ho hum to my taste too.
I’m brewing them in a full David’s mug, which is probably more like 16oz. I’ll try less water next time. Thanks!
Day 1 of the Advent Calendar. I am getting the licorice in both taste and smell from this one, but the other ingredients just blend in. It is a little more floral when I sweeten it, but still no wow factor. I have had a sore throat for a week now and have been drinking the Throat Coat tea and this strikes me as a watered down version of that. It works because I’m still feeling run down, but it is not anything that I would turn to for comfort or pleasure when well.
Preparation
Day 5 of the Advent Calender!
When I stiff the tea dry I can pick out the citrus right away, but I’m unable to name the other scents. There is a lone purple flower in the tea bag, which is a nice touch. Once brewed the strawberry come through in scent and taste. I can’t identify any of the other flavors, but it does leave my mouth a little dry after each sip. It just seems like a smooth fruity black tea. Another enjoyable but not amazing tea. I have been really into and impressed by French tea companies in the past six months or so and am hoping that DM will wow me with something in this calender. 19 or more teas to go, so there is still hope!
