Joli Cœur

Day 20 of the Dammann Freres advent calendar and it’s more bergamot! If you like bergamot, oh boy, is the Dammann Freres catalogue for you. I, alas, generally do not. I was happy to see another green tea, but the hopefulness that struck in me was significantly dampened by the strong aroma of bergamot as soon as I opened the packet. The bergamot definitely translates to the flavor, but thankfully there are also some other, pleasant notes: peach or apricot, and maybe a hint of cream or vanilla. But really that bergamot is overwhelming.

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!