derk Send Message

199 Followers / 153 Following

derk drank Christmas Tea Vert by Dammann Frères

1647 tasting notes

Advent 24, 2 of 2 :)

I had to close two big projects for customers and tie up all the loose ends before I could leave for the day. Both guys didn’t end up contacting me until 2 hours before the end of my shift, so I had to hustle to get everything done. I came home surprisingly exhausted.

The tea. I could smell bubblegum in the dry leaf and was confused because this doesn’t contain any of the gingerbread flavoring that I thought was the culprit for this impression in other Dammann Frères teas. The base scent was very fruity, with apple and orange but somehow also like fruit punch. The bitter almond came out as a marzipan note, with cinnamon and ginger accents softened by vanilla.

Steeped up, this is a pretty delicately flavored green tea with a gentle, spicy-sweet and fruity aroma. The base green tea is thick and a bit brisk with a grassy-dry grass tone. On the sip, I can taste almond followed by soft and sweet cinnamon and mild ginger. The taste overall is interesting. It reminds me a bit of fruity-mineral sauvignon blanc or a white sangria. But I can also taste the well integrated mild spices. The swallow leaves a soft cinnamon-vanilla whipped butter with almond. It calls to mind, dare I say — I don’t want to dissapoint — churros. The aftertaste lingers lightly with a very natural and gentle apple-cinnamon flavor.

This tea was a pleasant wind down and a cup to gently lift my spirits :) It has smooth tastes overall but is more disjointed in how those tastes spread across the palate.

Flavors: Almond, Apple, Apple Skins, Brisk, Bubblegum, Butter, Cinnamon, Dry Grass, Ginger, Grass, Marzipan, Mineral, Orange, Smooth, Thick, Vanilla, White Wine

I Like This

15 likes

0 comments

People who liked this

Profile

Bio

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.

bicycle bicycle bicycle