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Anna drank Noël à Pékin by Dammann Frères

303 tasting notes

Interestingly, if you compare the English and French descriptions for this tea, there is no mention of citrus (or, well, agrumi) oils in the translation – I picked this as the first to try from my Instant-Thé tea haul, as it smelled so strongly of blood orange – which I can never keep my hands off.

Green/black tea blends really appeal to me, as they are often so clear and light. My main issue with all-black (flavoured) teas are their muddiness, to be honest. But this turns a perfect shade in the cup. I steeped it for three minutes first, deemed it too weak and then gave it another minute. The recommendation was for 4-5 at 90C, and I think it could take the full 5 without any bitterness.

This is very peculiar. I’m not really a fan of jasmine (this was a free sample included with my order), but it works very well here – it’s a subtle, elusive perfume both in the nose and the cup.

Flavour wise, I get mostly passion fruit and blood orange, but a deep, rich blood orange – there isn’t any tartness to speak of. This all plays out against a very complex backdrop of intermingling fruit flavours, which is just lovely.

I find myself really enjoying this one, and I very badly want to try it with various forms of baked goods – it would be an excellent tea party tea, in all its complexity.

Some astringency.

[Sample from my epic Instant-Thé order to Rome, October 2013.]

Preparation

195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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3 comments

Nattie
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“I’m not really a fan of jasmine” :O le gasp

Anna, how could you?!

Anna
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Haha, that’s supposed to be ‘jasmine IN BLACK TEA BLENDS’. Honestly, sometimes when I edit these on my iPad they just go poof. Boarding now, will fix it later. Thank you! <3

Nattie
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Hahaha I guess that’s excusable. Hope you had a safe flight!

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Nattie
Delete

“I’m not really a fan of jasmine” :O le gasp

Anna, how could you?!

Anna
Delete

Haha, that’s supposed to be ‘jasmine IN BLACK TEA BLENDS’. Honestly, sometimes when I edit these on my iPad they just go poof. Boarding now, will fix it later. Thank you! <3

Nattie
Delete

Hahaha I guess that’s excusable. Hope you had a safe flight!

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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.