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derk drank Noël à Manhattan by Dammann Frères

1644 tasting notes

Advent 21.

The dry sachet smells a lot like candied chestnuts and artificial chocolate flavor coated hazelnuts with some mandarin orange zest.

The base tea feels like a mix between alkaline-bitter and oceanic-saline . It has a bothersome astringency and dries out my mouth. Guessing it’s a sencha. And I don’t think it at all goes well with the artificial-tasting chocolate and maple flavors. Slight hint of puffed rice. Finishes fruity and very drying. Gets prickly bitter when allowed to cool. Second steep was the same.

I like the concept but think it would taste better on a different green tea base, something that better complements the sweet flavors of chocolate, maple and chestnut, and even the mandarin orange, so maybe a Dragon Well. As it is, I’m surprised I drank two cups.

Flavors: Artificial, Astringent, Bitter, Chestnut, Chocolate, Drying, Hazelnut, Maple Syrup, Marine, Orange Zest, Sweet, Toasted Rice

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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