Dammann Frères

Okay, so I’m going to curl up in bed with a cup of tea and a few articles I have to read online. Bed, because it’s where the internets are strongest in this apartment… also it’s warm. And there are fresh linens. So it’s just a really good place to be right now. I have …

This is a sample that came with my order. It looks like a nice enough blend on paper, I mean – mango, rose petals? Other delightful fruity things? But then there’s Dammann Frères’ ginger. And boy, is their ginger not for me. It’s a faux-exotic ginger. It’s a dirty ginger. I don’t know if I can explain …

This smells absolutely lush and lovely. There’s peach and a hint of orange and a vague, smooth fruit base. Brewed, the orange notes become more present, but without overpowering the peach. In the cup, the tea reflects the scent profile quite accurately; I’m surprised by how much I enjoy the peach/orange combination. A typical Dammann …

Okay, second try, now with boiling water and a 2-minute steep. Much better this time around, but still too subtle in flavour to really convince me it has a personality. But there has to be a way to make the flavours in this one pop. Has to. This is beginning to feel like a So …

In the bag, this is perfection – the most elegant, sumptuous fruitiness, ripe with peach and passionfruit. But steeped, it’s so subtle it’s silly – I’m going to refrain from rating this, and will henceforth follow some Steepster advice and steep these DF teas much hotter. Seriously, peach, where did you go? We had a date. …

This whole Dammann Frères experience is turning a little too existential and emotional. I just wanted to drink some tea, okay? And now I’m forced to reminisce about my dead grandmother and maybe even reevaluate my whole outlook on black teas. I’m packing my trans-Atlantic suitcase right now; I don’t have time for these shenanigans! But fine. …