From the EU Travelling box. Yep, am being so slow at trying the samples I removed.
This does not remind at all of Christmas, but that might be cultural (christmas without cinnamon? noooo! And oranges, sometimes pumpkin and maybe lemon as well. Vanilla a bit. Maybe cloves). It smells of cream flavouring (artificial of course, but I do not really mind), vanilla and peppermint on the background. It is full of little silver beads which made me scratch my head and go “seriously?” (weirder than David´s tea even), but they are on the tea description here on steepster and well I will take it on faith. The sample I had might not be very typical, it is the leftover on the envelope (which was the reason I picked it, needed space in the box), and looked pretty broken down. I readied myself for some bitterness, and cut the brewing time short but the tea behaved admirably and it made a nice cup.
It is, for my taste, a sort of weird Christmas tea – peppermint and Christmas? why!?!? Mint is summer stuff, it is known…. Crazy, I say. But a nice cream-peppermint tea in all.
Mint is often thought of as a winter flavor here in the States. I’m guessing it is all the festive candy canes that make that association, but when I think about it logically it does seem more fitting as a summer flavor since it is so cooling.
I am sorry to be dogmatic, but your country is all WRONG about it. Very clearly ;)
I do not think it is an european thing, though have seen (and used, and think adorable) candy canes on christmas tree). Cinnamon and orange and other spices, those are the proper Christmas flavours ;)
Dammann freres has a series of Christmas teas, noel a someplace, I think not based on local traditions (which will be pretty close anyway) but in inspiration. They could do a Noel a New York or something!
My country is a pretty awesome place to live in a lot of categories, but I can definitely admit we do get things wrong from time to time and I agree this would be one of them.
I didn’t realize the Dammann Noel teas were based on local traditions! I got the advent calendar and wasn’t too impressed by the teas, but the idea is pretty creative.
Teresa I do agree with you, Peppermint is clearly not associated with winter or Christmas for me and don’t think it can be for a European.
Dammann Frères Christmas teas are really much dedicated town evocation rather than local tradition (e.g Rose for Noël à Paris – we have nothing really special with roses for Christmas here…more poinsetias !)
Stash Tea makes White Christmas, which is white tea with peppermint. Bath and Body works sells a Christmas blend called Twisted Peppermint, so I think you are right, they are associating the candy canes with Christmas. But I certainly respect that it is not a Christmas association everywhere! :)
in France Candy Cane are called Sucre d’Orge and the aroma the most seen everywhere is probably Cherry (of course red ones are more popular for Christmas). I may have seen some peppermint Candy Canes but probably not as popular in the south of Europe as I seems to be in North America.