This is a nice idea – currant, violet, macaron. Ideally, this would have a nice balance of berry notes from the currants, elegant florals from the violet and a sweet. light, pastry presence keeping the whole thing together.
Nose wise, I mostly get violet, but also an almondy note, which, generously, could be deemed the pastry.
In the cup, it’s mostly currant, with a slight minty hint to it; I suspect this is the Dammann Frères violet. We don’t really get along, I think; I definitely prefer Comptoir’s violet flavour.
The macaron, to use a now clearly established Steepsterism, RSVP:d to the party, but did not show up.
Is it a tasty tea? Yes. Is it a tea for me? No.
[From my epic Instant-Thé order to Rome, October 2013.]
Preparation
Comments
I think I never had this one, though I think I have smelled it on their (Absolute fabulous, open on sundays, and nice staff) shop at Place des Vosges.
I actually think their violet tea is the best violet tea ever, Ysaurella sent me some and it was totally in my shopping list till I was there and found out the price – 14 euros per 100 grams, rather than say 5-6 at Mariage Freres. I strategically decided to buy more teas instead of getting the Dammann violet tea, but I am sort of regretting it now, their violet tea was really incredible, the other teas I got instead are sort of meh.
Oh, interesting! I might just be DF-biased; overall, I’m not that impressed by their products. Well, I’m going to sell and/or trade most of my DF teas soon, including three teas containing violet – let me know if there’s anything you’re particularly interested in.
I will keep an eye out then! Do you have any of their plain violet tea?
I sort of get what you mean about Dammann. And their tea bases (Seriously how hard would it to be to change it from time to time and to make it stronger for example?)
But their plain-old-just violet tea is just about the only one tea of theirs I ever had where I can think, best version of this kinda of tea ever. Totally on my shopping list, except I found out the price and then decidedly (Wrongly) to get more teas instead. So sort of despicably greedy to try to swap for it now when I passed on the chance to buy it but wow if you got any of their plain violet tea you do not want, yeah, it´s awesome to my palate (not totally sure it´s that price awesome but would love to swap for it if anybody has it and does not love it)
No, sadly I don’t have it, nor have I tried it. Is it black or green?
I’m curious now, though – if I get my hands on some, I’ll make sure to tell you, and send you some.
Black, just plain black violet flavored tea. Very simple and traditional and totally worth having but it was 14 euros for a 100 grams a few months ago and my frugal side just said no. My hedonist side now is complaining ,it was really quite perfect.
Teresa, I never paid such a price for the Violet DF : http://www.instant-the.com/violette-the-noir-parfume.htm
http://www.dammann.fr/lang-en/thes-noirs-parfumes/912-violette-3259920005542.html
your salesman place des Vosges should have made a mistake
I looked at the Instant Thé website, too, but it doesn’t say ‘Dammann Frères’ on it – all the other teas have that, are you sure it’s from DF?
Oh, and I followed the steeping instructions, I always do that for a first try:
http://www.instant-the.com/macaron-cassis-violette-the-vert-parfume-dammann.htm
Ysaurella I did not ask the sales lady, but they had printed catalogue and that is what it said there – Charlotte au chocolat also I think. I think I got that catalogue, or brochure saved somewhere, will double check
Anna, really give a try at 80°
I think the webmaster forgot but they use to work with DF essentially + 2 other brands. I am almost sure it is.
@ Teresa, sure, on their website it is 6 € for 100g
Charlotte au chocolat is more expensive yes, 15 € something like that but at least the tea base is different for one time : a keemun :)
Oh, interesting – cteresa, maybe you can e-mail them and ask if it’s the DF violet?
As for the temperature experiments, I could, and I’m really grateful for the suggestion, but I’m just not enamored with DF at all. I find myself just being happy the teas don’t taste that much, because I essentially don’t enjoy the taste.
I think I only have two more to sample, and then I’ll just trade/sell/give these away to someone who appreciates them more. I’m really happy I got to try them, though – my goal is to try all the teas, after all!
gosh what a HUGE goal….ahahaha good luck !
did you get the envelope ? I never sent anything to Italy but I find it long to be delivered !
I haven’t checked my mail for a few days, I will tomorrow. Italy is sooo slooow sometimes, though – you never know how long it can be. Plus they sometimes hold things hostage and then you have to jump through all sorts of hoops to get them.
It was not a webmaster, it was at the place des vosges shop and their printed catalogue. But I just found it, it is summer 2013 catalogue and on section Thé noirs parfumés nº234 Violette 14€. wait, I took a photo, let me find a hosting site
cteresa: No, Ysaurella was referring to what I said about it not being marked on the IT-website that it was a DF tea, sorry to add to the confusion.
noo Teresa, the webmaster of Instant forgot the name of the brand for the Violette tea on his website, it was to Anna.
well anyway there is too much for the violette tea, this is not its real price.
I think I never had this one, though I think I have smelled it on their (Absolute fabulous, open on sundays, and nice staff) shop at Place des Vosges.
I actually think their violet tea is the best violet tea ever, Ysaurella sent me some and it was totally in my shopping list till I was there and found out the price – 14 euros per 100 grams, rather than say 5-6 at Mariage Freres. I strategically decided to buy more teas instead of getting the Dammann violet tea, but I am sort of regretting it now, their violet tea was really incredible, the other teas I got instead are sort of meh.
Oh, interesting! I might just be DF-biased; overall, I’m not that impressed by their products. Well, I’m going to sell and/or trade most of my DF teas soon, including three teas containing violet – let me know if there’s anything you’re particularly interested in.
I will keep an eye out then! Do you have any of their plain violet tea?
I sort of get what you mean about Dammann. And their tea bases (Seriously how hard would it to be to change it from time to time and to make it stronger for example?)
But their plain-old-just violet tea is just about the only one tea of theirs I ever had where I can think, best version of this kinda of tea ever. Totally on my shopping list, except I found out the price and then decidedly (Wrongly) to get more teas instead. So sort of despicably greedy to try to swap for it now when I passed on the chance to buy it but wow if you got any of their plain violet tea you do not want, yeah, it´s awesome to my palate (not totally sure it´s that price awesome but would love to swap for it if anybody has it and does not love it)
No, sadly I don’t have it, nor have I tried it. Is it black or green?
I’m curious now, though – if I get my hands on some, I’ll make sure to tell you, and send you some.
Black, just plain black violet flavored tea. Very simple and traditional and totally worth having but it was 14 euros for a 100 grams a few months ago and my frugal side just said no. My hedonist side now is complaining ,it was really quite perfect.
Next time.
Teresa, I never paid such a price for the Violet DF : http://www.instant-the.com/violette-the-noir-parfume.htm
http://www.dammann.fr/lang-en/thes-noirs-parfumes/912-violette-3259920005542.html
your salesman place des Vosges should have made a mistake
Anna : why did you steep this green at such a low temperature ? would you do a try at 80°c ?
I looked at the Instant Thé website, too, but it doesn’t say ‘Dammann Frères’ on it – all the other teas have that, are you sure it’s from DF?
Oh, and I followed the steeping instructions, I always do that for a first try:
http://www.instant-the.com/macaron-cassis-violette-the-vert-parfume-dammann.htm
Ysaurella I did not ask the sales lady, but they had printed catalogue and that is what it said there – Charlotte au chocolat also I think. I think I got that catalogue, or brochure saved somewhere, will double check
Anna, really give a try at 80°
I think the webmaster forgot but they use to work with DF essentially + 2 other brands. I am almost sure it is.
@ Teresa, sure, on their website it is 6 € for 100g
Charlotte au chocolat is more expensive yes, 15 € something like that but at least the tea base is different for one time : a keemun :)
Oh, interesting – cteresa, maybe you can e-mail them and ask if it’s the DF violet?
As for the temperature experiments, I could, and I’m really grateful for the suggestion, but I’m just not enamored with DF at all. I find myself just being happy the teas don’t taste that much, because I essentially don’t enjoy the taste.
I think I only have two more to sample, and then I’ll just trade/sell/give these away to someone who appreciates them more. I’m really happy I got to try them, though – my goal is to try all the teas, after all!
gosh what a HUGE goal….ahahaha good luck !
did you get the envelope ? I never sent anything to Italy but I find it long to be delivered !
I haven’t checked my mail for a few days, I will tomorrow. Italy is sooo slooow sometimes, though – you never know how long it can be. Plus they sometimes hold things hostage and then you have to jump through all sorts of hoops to get them.
It was not a webmaster, it was at the place des vosges shop and their printed catalogue. But I just found it, it is summer 2013 catalogue and on section Thé noirs parfumés nº234 Violette 14€. wait, I took a photo, let me find a hosting site
http://awesomescreenshot.com/08926p9p88
cteresa: No, Ysaurella was referring to what I said about it not being marked on the IT-website that it was a DF tea, sorry to add to the confusion.
noo Teresa, the webmaster of Instant forgot the name of the brand for the Violette tea on his website, it was to Anna.
well anyway there is too much for the violette tea, this is not its real price.
Oh, that is good to know, 14 euros really is kinda of outrageous (LOL, though seeing what north americans are willing to pay for mediocre tea, maybe not). It is really the wildest-freshest violet tea i tried yet, thanks Ysaurella!