drank Rooibos Jardin Bleu by Dammann Frères
1644 tasting notes

Dang it, backspace key! A note lost.

A cup of rooibos sounded nice before bed so I opened this sample. Regret washed over me when I was walloped in the senses with sweet medicinal redfruit (strawberry heavy) with a touch of tang. The smell of the sachet reminded me of red Fla-Vor-Ice popsicles; artificial artifacts of humid childhood summers in the previous millennium.

Once brewed, the aroma remained intense, fruit forward, medicinal tart strawberry and dark brown sugar. The flavorings play well with the rooibos. The taste was herbal forest strawberries blended with the sweet, vanilla medicinal, mineral, wood shavings character of red rooibos. A pleasing floral, almost perfumey quality merged with both. The rhubarb tartness became evident in the back and sides of the mouth after the swallow and was accompanied by the drying rooibos quality.

I propped myself up in bed with pillows and contemplated life and tea. This isn’t something that would ever be found in my cupboard since I’m not a big fan of hot, tart liquefied redfruit. But the longer I lay there and the drier my mouth became and the heavier my eyelids, I was lulled into restful sleep by the lingerings of an intense brown sugar returning sweetness and a delightful forest strawberry perfume.

Dammann Frères, you’re doing things to me.

Even though I consider this to have artificial and medicinal notes, I do recommend it for red rooibos fans. I really enjoyed it and thought the wild strawberry note was spot on. Do not consider this if you don’t like the taste of red rooibos, but maybe try the black tea version.

The second steeping was cold-brewed overnight and was good in its own right but I really appreciate Rooibos Jardin Bleu hot.

Flavors: Artificial, Brown Sugar, Drying, Floral, Herbs, Medicinal, Mineral, Perfume, Red Fruits, Rhubarb, Rooibos, Strawberry, Tangy, Tart, Vanilla, Wood

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 0 sec 8 OZ / 236 ML
Courtney

Your notes are awesome. I also had a DF rooibos red fruits blend last night, which was saved by their biscuit flavour. :)

Martin Bednář

I hate when I hit backspace accidentaly, so I am now and then using copying to clipboard. At least I won’t lose everything :)
I like this tea in black tea version, but rooibos seems nice as well

Mastress Alita

I have always, since I first joined Steepster, used an external NotePad .txt file that I write everything on. All 700-something tasting notes are on it. I then copy/paste off that file to Steepster. No chance of losing anything that way, and all my tea-writing is backed up in multiple (off-site) places.

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Comments

Courtney

Your notes are awesome. I also had a DF rooibos red fruits blend last night, which was saved by their biscuit flavour. :)

Martin Bednář

I hate when I hit backspace accidentaly, so I am now and then using copying to clipboard. At least I won’t lose everything :)
I like this tea in black tea version, but rooibos seems nice as well

Mastress Alita

I have always, since I first joined Steepster, used an external NotePad .txt file that I write everything on. All 700-something tasting notes are on it. I then copy/paste off that file to Steepster. No chance of losing anything that way, and all my tea-writing is backed up in multiple (off-site) places.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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