Dammann Frères

First of the Damman Freres teas brought to us courtesy of Doulton. Again, many thanks for making this tasting possible. It seems the French can do no wrong with their blends!

Ahhh…now this is the epitome of flavored green tea for me. Smells like cherry blossoms and vegetal green tea. Like walking along a path in high grass and you come to a cherry tree and the wind gently wafts the delightful fragrance under your nose making you want to follow its trail and find it again. This was quite a delightful cup. More on the floral side for me then on the fruity, but the fruit was there in a soft representation of cherries. Glad I got to try this and have enough for several cups.

enjoying a nice cup of tea after a homemade breakfast this morning 1-2 tsp tea for 2 minutes, boiling water, a spoonful of honey in a large coffee mug

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 2 zarafina cups filtered
Tool: Zarafina black-loose-medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: apple, spice, black tea, sweetness
Steeped Tea Smell: caramel, apple, spice, maybe cherry
Flavor: black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: translucent dark reddish-brown

I did something wrong, the tea smells fabulous, but is weak and a bit bitter. I think I need more leaf, and less time?

On the other hand both the tea and leaf smell so fabulous I am happy to just sit here and sniff….

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: zarafina 1 c, same 2 tsp, black-loose-medium
stronger body, astringent, less bitter, black tea, hints of apple and spice

Next time 2 tsp / cup and some sugar

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/dammann-freres-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

When I won Doulton’s Dragon Ball giveaway, she also sent me some other samples! How generous! From the selection that she sent, it looks as though Doulton purposely sent me teas that she thought I would like. Either that or she’s psychic! Thank you, Doulton!

This was my first experience with Dammann Freres. It sounds like a really wonderful tea; I love apples, lemons, and caramel. The strongest smell I got while steeping was the cinnamon. I’m not nuts about cinnamon, but smells can be deceiving. I should probably mention that I took this without milk or sugar.

This is quite different than anything I’ve had before. First I taste the lemon, then the apple. I’m not getting much caramel. Thankfully, the cinnamon is just on the back end, and very lightly so. I didn’t think I liked cinnamon teas, but the cinnamon that is present in this works very well. If it wasn’t there, there would be this big void at the end of the sip.

Thanks again, Doulton! I love trying new teas, and especially new companies!

My grandfather was never big on holidays, especially Christmas. The only two things he did every Christmas was buy Baccalà (salted cod) and chestnuts, so that he could have two things he enjoyed in Italy during the holidays here in America. I haaaaaaaated when the Baccalà came into the house – I thought it stunk to high heaven, especially since my grandmother had to soak it repeatedly before she could cook it, but I loved when we put the chestnuts into the oven. The shells became partially black and smelled so good. When you took away the shell (watch! still hot!) the chestnut was so tender and meaty and like nothing we ever had the rest of the year. I loved when we made the chestnuts.

This tea is so close to the warm roasted chestnuts. The woody oolong goes so naturally with a chestnut tea. I had only had one other chestnut tea which was a black tea, and it was all wrong. Too harsh, too cloying, too artificial, and trying to fix it by adding milk and sugar made it nothing like real chestnuts. This tea replicates that barely sweet nutty flavor so convincingly.

Steep 2: Mmmmmmm. Just as good. I almost want to bite down because there has to be chestnut meat there!

(do these French teas not quit or what!?!?! I am again going to save the leaves for some afternoon steeping)

I’m going to take the remaining sample of this tea home, put it safe ’n sound in a tin and mark it for Christmas Eve. Thank you Doulton for this trip to the past.

EDIT: 4 lovely steeps! and I found these articles about chestnuts & Italy fascinating:
http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0282.htm
http://italophiles.com/castagne.htm

drinking the last of it, thanks again Doulton, i am glad i got to order this :)
de-cupboarded sniff

made in my breville with auto start, green, medium
drinking now on train in
still reminds me of spring cherry from republic of tea
needs sugar
next time mild
(like 4 tsp to <10000 ml but >750ml)

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 22 oz filtered, boiling, then let set until approximately 170-180°
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: DELICIOUS, fruity with some vegetal scent
Steeped Tea Smell: fruity, cherry, green vegetal tea
Flavor: sweet, vegetal, slight hint of floral and fruit
Body: Light
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

This tea brings immediately to mind spring cherry green tea.

I believe in my excitement to try this tea I used too much leaf and / or perhaps water that was too hot.

I unfortunately decided to break into this tea (it smelled so fabulous I could not resist!) after 6 o’clock pm. I do hope it won’t keep me up all night.

Sadly right now I must award it only 2/4 leaves. I do believe once I tweak the steep it will be a 3/4 however I do think that it is on par as a tea with spring cherry. I am not saying this tea is not good, but I certainly won’t bring it from France to the US if there is a comparable tea here.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 3 minutes – still a nice vegetal fruity tea, dumped in honey and drank it all up

I got my order in from the group order from Dammann Freres with Doulton today!

The packaged smelled delicious, simply delicious. I had to have one right away.

I also got some surprises in there I can’t wait to try!

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/dammann-freres-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

Decided to steep this again. All I can say is this is a delightful chocolate blend. May even say I prefer this one to Florence. As others have said, this is milder than Florence. And I agree. Sort of the typical subtle French tea. But as I am trying to limit sugar…that Florence with it’s bitter notes from the hazelnuts requires soooo much sugar to smooth it out. This chocolate tea only needs 1 tsp per 16 oz. For a delightful sweet tea.

Had this tea in the afternoon as suggested by DF. Certainly a perfect way to celebrate the end of my workday-excercise hour…Very chocolatey. Of course, I added milk and sugar which made this even more like a sweet treat. I could not detect the almond flavors but instead detected caramel?

I am so sad – my last cup of this delicious, subtle tea. Sweet and cherried and green, but soft. So easy to drink. I am still of an unevolved nature in that sometimes when I drink green tea I feel like I am taking medicine! I find some of the vegetal tastes unpleasant, and if the tea is not of a certain quality, even low steeping temps tend to produce bitterness. Not this one, though. It’s pure delight!

Au revoir my beautiful Frenchie :)

I was straightening out my tea drawer at work yesterday, and I was inspired to take a sniff of this one. Oooooh! The fragrance of the leaves was so sweet and intoxicating! I knew I had to have it today!

Ahhhh. Sweet. Green. Cherry. Flowers. The word “tender” comes to mind, as does “Spring” – Delicious. Delicate. French. Last time, I got 4 steeps out of this one, so I am looking forward to a lovely morning :)

A delightful green tea. The base reminds me of my beloved violet tea: smooth, a little vegetal, very enjoyable. The cherry flavor is beautiful. Like a faint whisper of a cordial made with real cherries. Very subdued and elegant. You could say “the anti-Teavana” ;) I could easily drink green tea each and every day with these wonderfully blended Dammann Freres teas!! They “get” just what I like in a tea – that a little art and artifice does wonders. I am certainly developing an addiction!

Steep two: 4 min Sooooo good. Again, the second steep of this tea really shines for me. The flavors marry, the tea is darker and more flavorful, ahhh! I am so in love!

I am going to save my leaves for an after lunch steep just like I did yesterday.

The only reason I’m rating it lower than the violet tea, really, is because I think the violet is harder to do with a soft touch, and they made something that could quickly be too perfumed and cloying into something exquisite. I think cherry is a little easier to do and a little more common – but make no mistake – this is a world class tea and I’d jump at the chance to snap up some more!!!

EDIT: did 2 more steeps for a total of 4. I enjoyed every sip!! :)

Like most French teas, the DF advertises a multitude of flavors for this blend: chocolate! vanilla! cherry! strawberry! And like most French teas, they magically blend into a subtle /sophisticated flavor like a classical symphony and certainly not a rock concert…..

This is the first DF tea I have tried from Doulton’s order and phew I have many more to sample…

The teas that Doulton so graciously ordered from France have arrived in my mailbox!! I am so excited! The minute I opened the package this one started to call to me. Violets! I ate a nice big breakfast that reminded me of a lunch so I could make pretend I was having this in the afternoon :)

Ooooooh so delicate! I’m drinking green tea Choward’s Violet candies!!! I am swooning. Where is my fainting couch?!?! I am IN LOVE! I am finding subtle supportive other sweet floral flavors, but this one is nothing like an Earl Grey and the other flowers do not stand out. This one is a lovely slightly vegetal green tea with violet, violet, violet. I erred on the side of caution and steeped it for 3 minutes, but the next time I make it I’m going to go for a 3:30 first steep. I think it can take it.

Steep 2: 4 min – Could it be that this steep is even more delicious?!!? Why I think it is!!! It’s a little more rounded but equally as violet and wonderful. I wish you could see me – I’m freaking out. You have no idea how much I love violet and I was so afraid this tea would be the equivalent of a toiletry – and it IS NOT!!!!

I’m completely intoxicated and am seeing violet elephants, but I think this could even go another steep. I’m going to save my leaves and see if I may want some this afternoon!

I am so happy right now! I love Doulton, I love the French, and I love Steepster!!!!!!!

EDIT: I just did a third steep (4 min) and it’s great!!!

Also – this sounds a little strange but I totally want to take a bath with this tea!! Green tea bathing is supposed to be good for health:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1141970/the_health_benefits_of_a_green_tea.html?cat=68

and this fragrance – ahh!! It would be the most amazing soak ever.

This appears to be a promising green tea.

I messed up my order and through my own miscalculation was only able to try a small portion of a tea-spoon so I tried to adjust with only a small amount of water and a longer steeping time….well, maybe you know how these things go. I certain detected a very fruity aroma and not so much of a vegetal one. I’ll be interested to hear what others think.

I was bought a selection of teas from Dammann Freres after family visited paris i received this tea in a fantastic case of 4 with a lovely gold covered infuser. This tea was very refreshing and smooth on the pallet not too sweet, short aftertaste and medium tolow viscousity very enjoyable

I love the green tea base to this tea! It’s not the buttery vegetable type of green…it tastes more like my lovely Dragon well…or at least has similar notes. I haven’t tried to find out what exactly this base is, so I could be way off, I just know that I like these leaves. The flavor of peach doesn’t really come through for me, but the passionfruit, whoa the passionfruit aroma is definitely there, and a bit in the after taste. This is a quite pleasant cup. I think I’ll brew up another cup, and possibly a small pitcher of iced for tomorrow. Thank you soccermom for sharing this with me!

This is one sweet confection! It smells a bit like one of those Easter baskets my parents would prepare when we were young—a melange of fragrances. The black tea seems to be a foundation for the candied fruity florals. This tea is a bit like the Easter Bunny on steroids of sweetness.

I am absolutely loving these Dammann Frères teas, but it is getting a bit cloying. They are so delicious and maybe I’m at the point today where I’m craving the smokiness of a Lapsang Souchang. I think I need to bring them out sparingly and not try to dash through them so quickly. I’m bedazzled by the wonder of it all!

I’m enjoying this “greedy blend”. The dry tea smells like dark, rich chocolate. Brewed, it is full and chocolate-y. I cannot really detect the other flavors side from a very faint whiff of almond. I added milk at the end and it tasted like a rich hot chocolate with black tea highlights.

It’s really enjoyable and makes me feel “greedy” as advertised. I might need to reorder this.

The dry tea smells bake-y and figgy and very much like a Fig Newton. The steeped tea is a medium black with a flowery figgy flavor. The aftertaste is very pleasant. It is like a fig-infused flower—but I cannot id the flowery taste precisely. Midway through the cup I added some milk and a little bit of sugar and that really did not change my opinion. The milk did not diminish the flavor. I am glad that I have this and will wait to judge it again when I feel more emotionally grounded.

5 minutes later: there is a very satisfying and rich aftertaste lingering on my palate. It must be this tea; my breath alone does not smell so sweet!

LATER: This tea stands up very well; I am enjoying it right now and revising its grade upwards. Since I wrote my original note I have been revising some tea grades based on those which I will NEED to buy again when my original stock is low. There are a lot of French teas which are very amiable but somewhat “same-ish”. This one has got a unique thing going with its strong fig taste. I prefer it with milk and a touch of sugar for full luxury.

I usually have this tea whenever I go to one of my favorite restaurants here in Atlanta. Generally, I’m not wild about French teas, but this jasmine tea retains a delicate flavor even after a recommended 4-5 minute steep.

Of all the Dammann offerings this is my favorite – but I must admit I am a green tea lover. This tea is wonderful at any time of day and has an enjoyable mint flavoring and aroma.

This is a high quality, smooth and delightful green tea. Overall, it is a mild tropical flavor but this is not a one-note flavor. No single flavor predominates but each of the added flavors come together in a light manner… A highly enjoyable tea that will be perfect when the weather warms……