Dammann Frères

2023 sipdown no. 10

Steeped, this tea has the scent of floral apple juice. In taste, the floral comes slightly more to the front, though the apple juice-esque flavour tones it down quite a bit to where they’re almost equal. There’s a definite fruit juiciness here as well.

Comparison: Mon Petit Chocolat & Mon Petit Praliné (apologies as I’ll be posting the same note on both teas)!

MPC (notes: chocolate, cocoa, biscuit, almond): At first sniff, this one smells very chocolate-y. The taste comes through as chocolate, albeit quite thin (though I more or less expect this of DF). Then there is the ‘biscuit’ flavour – which is one of my favourite DF flavours. It adds a complexity that makes me think of having biscuits and tea. A says she gets all chocolate. We both prefer this one!

MPP (notes: chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, honey): At first sniff, this one smells nutty, but I can’t pinpoint anything more specific. I don’t get as much chocolate flavour here, if any. There is the scent that translates to the taste that’s also difficult to pinpoint. My guess is that it’s a raw hazelnut flavour. It’s not bad, but it would be nice to have more chocolate with it. A says she gets hazelnut followed by hints of caramel.

I received this as a sample in my last order and I liked it more than I remember. I’ve been feeling crummy lately (what’s new), and the combination of grassy and grainy flavours paired with the balanced but bright sweetness of raspberry is simply soothing to the soul.

I don’t usually go for herbal blends but I wish I’d picked up more of this now.

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 23

I was looking forward to this one too! I love raspberry – and this is a good jam-like raspberry. The grassy, creamy, and nutty profile of the oats is a cozy yet hearty change of pace too. It’s a good tisane to drink while hiding under a blanket from the weather (there was snow, then there was ice rain and wind, and now the city is a giant ice rink).

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 23

Ooh, I’ve been waiting for this one! I couldn’t decide which version to order, but when I saw that this raspberry one is in the advent, I ordered the caramel flavor so I could try both. The caramel one is scrumptious!

This is honestly lovely. It has all those wonderful sweet, creamy, oat notes, with a hint of hay and grassiness. And then add in the raspberry, and it tastes like some kind of oat raspberry baked good, maybe those baked fruit bars that have a sort of crumb cookie base, layer of jam, and streusel topping.

Love it, I’ll definitely have to pick up this one as well the next time I order. And I bet the two of them mixed together would be lovely as well…

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmiTBHJuIO5/

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 22

Not the biggest fan of apple teas, although I kind of like that this is a baked spiced apple with hints of caramel, maraschino, and vanilla – albeit a perfumey/mustier baked apple than I prefer. It’s a bit too muddled for my liking; I think I want a nippier base tea.. or something.

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 21

Ok, I like this one. The black currant is jelly-worthy and the peppermint near-creamy. It should also be said that I really like both of these ingredients, even on their own; together, I think they make for an interesting sweet chutney thing – or a possible twist on a mojito. The hibiscus and rosehips are doing their thing too, but I’ve never had a problem with either of these flowers. I thankfully can’t pick out the apple today, so all is good.

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 21

I liked the sound of this one, until I saw it’s a fruit tisane with black currant and mint flavors. I was thinking more of an herbal blend, not being a huge fan of hibiscus, but here we go!

It’s fine I guess. I do get the blackcurrant for sure, the mint is a bit more subtle. But mostly, I taste the generic base of apple, hibiscus, and rosehips. It’s a bit too tart, a bit more balance would be nice. But also I just don’t think the syrupy blackcurrant and cooling mint really mesh very well with the fruity base?

Not my favorite.

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 20

Another green tea with fruit and bergamot flavouring… DF should’ve mixed up their selection a bit more this year (only green tea and tisanes remain, I believe).

It’s a nice mild bergamot, and not as jammy-sweet with the fruit as the last couple days – but still not my favourite. The green tea base has a more trampled-grass-field note then past days (Chinese sencha-like). The apricot flavouring is more tangy-sweet stone-fruit than under-ripe sour; the bergamot further brings out the tartness and brightness of the apricot. The vanilla adds an air of sophistication, and I’m glad to see it!

If this didn’t use Chinese Sencha I would like it more. The flavouring is good but I’ll never be a fan of that tea base.

Dammann Frères Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 20

Interesting, another fruity green tea with bergamot? We just had one of those yesterday!

Thankfully, this one isn’t as floral as yesterday’s selection. The bergamot is actually very mild here, in fact I’m not sure I’d detect it at all if I hadn’t read the ingredients. Mostly I’m getting a sweet and creamy apricot and vanilla combination, and a very grassy Chinese sencha base. The flavoring is perhaps a bit too subtle in this tea, at least in my opinion. I do really like the apricot and vanilla, it’s just that the base is quite strong in comparison, and its grassy notes sort of cut into that nice creamy effect.

So tasty, but not something I would order!