The first time I smelled this tea, it was so familiar. I’m absolutely elated it only took one more whiff to figure it out, because it’s a weird one and it would have driven me crazy trying to hunt it down. Dry, Thé des Impressionistes smells like… Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream with Cocoa Butter …
2013
Thé Vert Marco Polo – Mariage Frères
When I buy teas, I generally pick them out myself, going on scent alone – this is why so many of my ratings are clustered in the 80-90 range; I know what I’m going to like in the cup. When I procure tea in a different manner, though, anything can happen. For my latest Mariage …
Wedding Impérial – Mariage Frères
I suppose the time has come for me to confess I’m not a big fan of the kind of ‘dessert tea’ that contains large chunks of chocolate and caramel and whatnot. I’d rather just have a hot chocolate, complete with rum and whipped cream and vanilla extract and all the decadent little trimmings. I do …
Thé à l’Opéra – Mariage Frères
So what do you do when you have a self-imposed ban on buying more teas? Outsmart yourself, of course. Maybe one of your friends has a small debt to repay. Perhaps said friend is going on a trip. Maybe, just maybe, you refuse cash, but suggest your friend repay you in tea instead? This is …
Safari – Bönor & blad
I’m pretty sure this is the same tea found here: https://www.tehusetjava.se/product/safari-losvikt. Its origin escapes me – all the main tea chains in Sweden seem to share certain blends. I got this for a friend to try, but ended up with some that didn’t fit into the special Gluttonette-fashioned Tea Travel Set™ gift canister. I get no …
Kustfägring (Coastal Beauty) – Bönor & blad
I’m not sure if this is the same tea as this one: http://steepster.com/teas/kahls/30691-kustfagring. I guess it’s possible Bönor & blad sell teas from Kahls, or maybe this is just one of those common blends I never realize is a common blend until I’ve come across it in fifteen different stores. Either way, this is really excellent …
Kvitten (Quince) – Kränku
I do love a bit of quince jam and the characteristic tart-ripe note of the fruit is indeed highly present scent wise in the dry tea. Unfortunately, this complexity doesn’t quite translate to the cup – the main body of the scent matches that of the flavour, but the quincey aftertaste goes missing somewhere along …
Kiwi-vanilj (Kiwi Vanilla) – Kränku
This is the first kiwi-flavoured tea I’ve tried – I always assumed kiwi was one of those fruits that would turn out very artificial. When I received this as a gift, though, I was very excited to try it – particularly after smelling it. The scent in the bag is gorgeous; like a big bowl …
Champagne grädd (Champagne & Cream) – Tehörnan
The scent of the dry tea really appeals to me. It holds that promise of the unexpected I always seem to be looking for, that note of ‘what could this possibly taste like?’. And this tea delivers – unfortunately to the extent that I can’t quite explain it. The cornflower is highly present in the …
Rouge Provence – Mariage Frères
Today, I served this for a birthday afternoon tea-esque (cup)cake party. Paired with all that frosting it seemed almost indecent; a kind of Marie Antoinette sumptuousness colliding with the explosive unpredictability of the Mad Hatter. I do adore this tea. Boiling, 5 min