I am liking this more and more each time I have it (good thing because I got 100 grams). The trick to brew it is IMO to use more leaf that you would normally use – this is a very pretty tea, filled with petals and things, but you need to compensate for those pretty things by adding more real tea.
It´s sweet (macaroon tea! Parisian macaroon tea!) and feels like a total indulgence, but somehow perfect for this post Christmas season where I am totally tired of food particularly rich food (clementines, rucula and tomato and sushi are somehow OK. Chinese hot and sour soup as well). The coconut and pistachio in this tea are somehow just perfect for this mood of mine.
Comments
On my list of tea things to try next year is a tea (any tea) from The O Dor, thanks for the reminder. I LOVE Mariage Frères, as you know, but I am so, so underwhelmed by Dammann Frères (And they’re much like Fauchon, right – some blends are almost exactly the same?) So it seems The O Dor is the one big contender left on my list. Would you say they’re more like MF or DF?
I am a little bit underwhelmed by Dammann (and Fauchon) – they are nice teas, but they are a bit samey-samey, and the base is boring. Though Dammann is quite nice at pricing (not somethin which can be said for Fauchon).
I think Theodor is much more like Mariage Freres than Dammann is, but with a definite more quirky side. I heard right here http://steepster.com/tuscanteal/posts/205248 the owner used to work at MF and that for example Coincidence Noir is a very cheeky version (his version) of a better Marco Polo. But their teas are truly very good, different tea bases, intense, interesting (even when strange! The tomato and lemon darjeeling which somehow works) flavours. They are good at rooibos as well and very interesting plain teas – though they seem to specialize more on japanese green teas, and sadly have not started exploring those, mostly due to budget.
Thank you so much for explaining, it was beyond helpful. I’m even more determined to try The O Dor now.
I’ve always been both impressed and annoyed by their website; I admire the concept and the quirkiness, but since flavour plays such an important role in tea consumption, I wish they’d offer alternate, boring old descriptions. Plus the shipping is murder.
But you’ve inspired me, I’m going to Castroni later in the week! I’m pretty sure they carry Fauchon.
The site is annoying and I was pretty prejudiced against them because of that (well, and because the tins I saw for sale here were 20 euros for english breakfast blend and a hibiscus tisane. But they do have a peculiar tin pricing thing).
The trick I use on their site is the search function which gives short one or two lines description for teas. Search for bergamot and it lists all teas with it, search for part of a tea´s name and gives it back a short description of that tea. Does not make up for the rest but helps (build monstrous tea shopping lists…)
Yes, you’re right – great idea. (Oooh, peach! Oooh, vanilla!)
This is going to get very decadent very fast.
Jin Patisserie sells The O Door in the US, and if you call them directly, shipping is much more reasonable than what’s posted on their website.
Haha, yes, at the very source of fancy tea! But that’s a great tip, nonetheless – I’ll check out the website; thank you.
thanks Teresa for the tip about the leaf amount, I’ll retry your sample soon :)
Anna, Dammann is thetea provider for both Fauchon and Hédiard…you can find the same tea cheaper at Dammann.
There are exceptions as Mélange Fauchon, I think this is a exclusive creation of Dammann for Fauchon
Ysaurella, I can send some more – I think this really has potential ( though comparing to Tribute, perhaps it is natural to always prefer the first). But the fillers, the huge huge petals, it needs more tea than usual to be strong enough – but when done right, it´s something.
This is one tea I can not imagine ever not being able to identify, it´s so unique.
On my list of tea things to try next year is a tea (any tea) from The O Dor, thanks for the reminder. I LOVE Mariage Frères, as you know, but I am so, so underwhelmed by Dammann Frères (And they’re much like Fauchon, right – some blends are almost exactly the same?) So it seems The O Dor is the one big contender left on my list. Would you say they’re more like MF or DF?
I am a little bit underwhelmed by Dammann (and Fauchon) – they are nice teas, but they are a bit samey-samey, and the base is boring. Though Dammann is quite nice at pricing (not somethin which can be said for Fauchon).
I think Theodor is much more like Mariage Freres than Dammann is, but with a definite more quirky side. I heard right here http://steepster.com/tuscanteal/posts/205248 the owner used to work at MF and that for example Coincidence Noir is a very cheeky version (his version) of a better Marco Polo. But their teas are truly very good, different tea bases, intense, interesting (even when strange! The tomato and lemon darjeeling which somehow works) flavours. They are good at rooibos as well and very interesting plain teas – though they seem to specialize more on japanese green teas, and sadly have not started exploring those, mostly due to budget.
Thank you so much for explaining, it was beyond helpful. I’m even more determined to try The O Dor now.
I’ve always been both impressed and annoyed by their website; I admire the concept and the quirkiness, but since flavour plays such an important role in tea consumption, I wish they’d offer alternate, boring old descriptions. Plus the shipping is murder.
But you’ve inspired me, I’m going to Castroni later in the week! I’m pretty sure they carry Fauchon.
The site is annoying and I was pretty prejudiced against them because of that (well, and because the tins I saw for sale here were 20 euros for english breakfast blend and a hibiscus tisane. But they do have a peculiar tin pricing thing).
The trick I use on their site is the search function which gives short one or two lines description for teas. Search for bergamot and it lists all teas with it, search for part of a tea´s name and gives it back a short description of that tea. Does not make up for the rest but helps (build monstrous tea shopping lists…)
Yes, you’re right – great idea. (Oooh, peach! Oooh, vanilla!)
This is going to get very decadent very fast.
Jin Patisserie sells The O Door in the US, and if you call them directly, shipping is much more reasonable than what’s posted on their website.
http://jinpatisserie.com/
Ah! You’re both in Europe. My bad.
Haha, yes, at the very source of fancy tea! But that’s a great tip, nonetheless – I’ll check out the website; thank you.
MissB;thanks in any case!
thanks Teresa for the tip about the leaf amount, I’ll retry your sample soon :)
Anna, Dammann is thetea provider for both Fauchon and Hédiard…you can find the same tea cheaper at Dammann.
There are exceptions as Mélange Fauchon, I think this is a exclusive creation of Dammann for Fauchon
Ysaurella, I can send some more – I think this really has potential ( though comparing to Tribute, perhaps it is natural to always prefer the first). But the fillers, the huge huge petals, it needs more tea than usual to be strong enough – but when done right, it´s something.
This is one tea I can not imagine ever not being able to identify, it´s so unique.