50
drank Rouge Bourbon by Mariage Frères
303 tasting notes

When we were at Dagnino this weekend, I also picked up some samples (and possibly a tin of something, but I will admit to nothing). They sell single bags for €1, which is pretty fair if you just want to try something out. I’ve always been curious about this one, and I’ve been craving rooibos lately (clearly something is wrong) so I grabbed it.

The bag smells of vanilla, however not the vanilla of MF’s Black Vanilla – something even subtler and lightly spicy. I’m still on the lookout for that true, boozy, rich Bourbon vanilla I had hoped for in the black tea, but this is a step back, more than anything. Flavour wise, this is pure gingerbread to me. Vanilla? No. Cloves. That’s all the sweetspicyness amounts to for me. This is a little frustrating, as gingerbread and individual gingerbread spices are some of the all-time worst flavours for me.

What saves this one, though, is the caramelly vanilla notes right at the end of the sip. This is what lingers, and it’s pretty comforting. I’m drinking this in bed, and it makes me want to wear my mom-knit socks and be all autumnal.

This one is not for me, though, in spite of the fair rooibos and endsippage noms.

[Sample bag picked up at Dagnino in Rome, April 2014.]
[Polished off in Rome, April 2014.]

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
Sil

Steam makes a bourbon vanilla…I just haven’t tried it…

cteresa

For me this is a plain rooibos. with just a hint of vanilla to bring front all those notes a good rooibos should have.

Greg_2tea

endsipage noms, tha’s cute

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Comments

Sil

Steam makes a bourbon vanilla…I just haven’t tried it…

cteresa

For me this is a plain rooibos. with just a hint of vanilla to bring front all those notes a good rooibos should have.

Greg_2tea

endsipage noms, tha’s cute

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Bio

I’m going to try all the teas.

Then I will choose a lucky few perfect specimens, and we will live happily together in my tea cupboard.

Forever.

* *

2015

This will be a year of in-betweenness and logistics. Where to put the teas. How to arrange the teas. Which teas to replenish – which ones to say goodbye to.

Still doing Project Green.
Still doing Project Jasmine.
Still doing Project Peach.

Dr. Tea is the name, I’m ahead of my game
still, steeping my leafs, still f*ck with the temps
still not loving Assam (uh-huh)
still rock my Bosch kettle with its high-pitched shriek
still got love for the greens, repping Lupicia
still the cup steams, still doing my thang
since I left, ain’t too much changed, still

(With apologies to Mr. Young.)

2014

This year, all bets are off. I am going to drink both peppermint and chamomile and possibly suffer a little. But it’s okay – it’s for science.

I’m doing Project Jasmine, Project Peach and Project Unflavoured Green.

In terms of flavoured teas, Lupicia and Mariage Frères have become my massive favourites, and I have learned that Dammann Frères/Fauchon/Hédiard and Butiki aren’t really for me.

The O Dor, Adagio and Comptoir des thés et des épices are all on this year’s I’d like to get to know you better list.

2013

Getting back into tea drinking last fall, I was all about rooibos. This past spring has been all green tea, all the time, with some white additions over the summer. Currently attempting a slow, autumnal graduation to black teas. Oolongs are always appropriate.

The constant for me, flavour wise, is the strong presence of fruity and floral notes. Vanilla is lush, as long as it’s not artificial. Peach, berries, mango. Cornflower, rose, lavender.

No peppermint.

No chamomile.

No cinnamon.

Ever.

* *

My ratings don’t reflect the ‘What does this tea do for me?’ standard, but rather my own ‘What would I do for this tea?’ scale.

100-90
My absolute favourites. Teas I would travel for – or, in any case, pay exuberant postage for, because they simply have to be in my cupboard. Generally multi-faceted teas with complex scents and flavours. Teas with personality. Tricky teas.

89-80
Teas I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again if and when I came across them. Tea purchases I would surreptitiously weave into a travel itinerary (Oh! A Lupicia store! Here?! My word!).

79-70
Teas I enjoyed, but don’t necessarily need to make any kind of effort to buy again.

69-0
Varying degrees of disinterest and contempt.

Location

Rome, Italy

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