Mariage Frères

Phénix is not a very well known MF blend, no idea why because it is quite good.
It reminds me about Thé du Loup of Theodor EVEN IF there is no chocolate in Phénix but caramel.There is due to the presence of Hazelnuts I think and the smoothness of the both tea bases.
I get honey on aftertaste, really well blended.
I wonder if the tea base is a keemum…we never have these informations with MF. But it’s a very mellow tea.
cteresa this is a tea I would love you to review…if you are still continuing to drink tea at this period of the year (it’s cold in France perhaps the same in Portugal ?)
A very greedy tea.

I was a little worried seeing the ratings of this tea but really wanted to try by myself too.
This is clearly a mild tea base, but not weak. Inversely, the aromas are strong and especially on citrus. There is a kind of je ne sais quoi really joyful with the citrus here.
The vanilla adds something very interesting to the blend.
Saying that where is the crème brûlée promised by MF ? in the air I would say, like a spirit, an inspiration : there but not really too…

I really like Thé de Pâques and I’m happy to have bought 100g today.
It smells like a mystery blend to me…blended by the Easter rabbit ? arrived with Rome’s bells ? I just surrender to the fantastic aromas especially due to the fantastic way the citrus come with vanilla.

Looks like I am the first to rate this. This is a sample from the recent swap and tea crawl, and I think I got this one from CrowKettle if I’m not mistaken.

This tea kinda smells powdery, and I am really not sure why. It also has a little of that to start. It does meld into a sweet finish though. I can pick up some sweet caramel and butterscotch notes at the back of my throat with the sips. I did add sugar and milk to try to give it a little kickstart on the sweetness and creaminess.

The infusion was a lovely mahogany red shade. I think the only thing that catches me off guard with this one is that powdery start. It’s so unusual. I don’t think the tea is off, because it was sealed in a foil pouch.

I’d say this is an ok tea, but it isn’t something I can’t live without. I’m glad I got to try it.

SIPDOWN!

I absolutely love this tea whenever I’ve been lucky enough to have it (never bought any myself, just acquired it from swaps), but its not something I see myself able to drink every day. Still, strawberries and cream tea is fantastic every once in a while!

As is the fact that every time I have it I like to imagine what really is in this, since it’s ingredients are so secretive and all.

Ah well, it will be missed but I am sure I’ll see it again someday soon. :)

A sample from Sil – and a welcome tea back into my cupboard!

This is the best strawberry tea ever. Perfect without milk or sugar (though not bad with), it is smooth strawberries and cream on a strong black base. I imagine there may be other “red fruits” in there, maybe a bit of raspberry is noticeable if I think about it? And its more the velvet texture of raspberry than the taste, because yuck. Raspberries are gross.

Yum, I am glad to have a few cups of this left to enjoy!

SIPDOWN! This is the last of my sample from momo – it will be missed, but not for long as I definitely will be getting more of this one! Like last time, it is all strawberries and cream. I had a touch more leaf than I wanted to use for 12 oz., but there wasn’t any bitterness despite the extra tea… yay!

I’ve had both Strawberry Zabaglione by 52Teas, and Strawberry shortcake by DAVIDsTea, and both of those are similar in taste profile to this, but this edges both of those out on three points. One, it’s actually available for me to buy again. Two, it was consistently good both times I had it – both other teas seemed to be touch and go, sometimes when the parameters didn’t even change. Three, it has a good resteep where the others did not. Definite must buy!

And now for something only marginally related to tea:

There are so many things I’m happy about right now that I think I’ll list them:

1.) Payday
2.) 4 days off – all on a weekend, no less!
3.) It’s raining.
4.) My tea station has wheels!!!

That last one is especially awesome, and I really need to be extra nice to the boyfriend for it. I didn’t think I would particularly NEED the luxury of just moving my entire collection/set up into another room but it is REALLY awesome to just sit it near the couch and lazily reach over for refills.

Aside from a quick grocery store run and some laundry, this is probably what my day will look like: couch, books, Steepster, and bathroom. One more day until Taurus starts – I can’t think of a better way to welcome it!

This is a sample from momo – one I’ve had on my shopping list forever so I am beyond excited for it! Thank you!

This one’s been on my shopping list for so long that I forgot part of the reason I wanted it was the mystique in the description. I took a huge whiff of the dry leaf and came on here to see what I was smelling (bad me, for not forming my own opinions) only to realize that nope – gonna have to use my brain cells on a Saturday morning.

The answer, if you’re wondering, is strawberries and cream. Juicy spring strawberries, and whipped cream with vanilla. 2/3 of a strawberry shortcake that’s heavier on the strawberry without additives, and heavier on the whipped cream with some milk and sugar. The black tea is smooth and plays well with the strawberry. Even though it’s a black tea it still manages to have a delicate balance to it – this isn’t a “bold” tea like I consider most blacks to be.

One thing I’m not getting is any florality, but I am not very attuned to floral notes anyway, given that I don’t particularly care for them.

Overall, this is going back on my shopping list for once I’ve pared down my cupboard. It is perfection and the mystery behind it makes it that much more fun – I imagine this would be a blast to serve to guests!

If you drink it pure the smell of flowers might be overpowering. But mixed with a good milk is a party of flavours and smell delicious.

When this tea works, it works SO WELL. When it doesn’t, it’s bitter and undrinkable. Because of that, I’d never buy any, but because Sil gave it to me, I am enjoying a cup now, and have enough for one cup later on. Today it’s almost perfect. I’m getting jammy strawberries and other warm fruits, and it’s only slightly bitter. I count that as a win.

I liked this and now it’s gone and onto my shopping list. :)

Thanks Sil! (167)

I’m watching one last episode of SPN (4.08) before we have company over and then I won’t have control over the tv! Oh noez! :P Happy Holidays.

I think I had a tiny sample of this once before but I think it was possibly stale as I didn’t really get much from it.

THIS one though, smells amazing. And, after drinking Brioche and thinking that is a tea I should drink all the time, now I’m drinking this and thinking the same thing. But I can’t have 100g of ALL THE TEAS.

Can I?

No.

I do think this is one I would like to stock up on at some point. The base is really nice, even though I don’t have the words for it, and the strawberry cream notes are a delight. I’m bumping this up.

Thanks Sil!

Sipdown! (So I guess I’d better review it?)

This is my third cup and I think I finally got it where I want it. The first two attempts were too strong and astringent for me, but this last one was at a lower temperature and for less time. I’m getting a nice floral black with a touch of astringency, and lots of fruity notes – mostly strawberry?

It’s good, but I’m not freaking out about it. I wonder if I should have steeped it differently? :| Or maybe this is just one where I and the Steepster community will go our separate ways? I feel like I’m a disappointment to you all. :P

Thanks CrowKettle for letting me try this!

farewell my dear friend! I had this tea today as my first cup of the day in latte form. I’ve been meaning to do that for a while now, and since it was my last cup of this deliciously wonderful tea, it was the right time. It was a really nice deliciously creamy start to my day. yay!

only a single cup of this is left….but since it’s friday i splurged and drank the second last cup of this. So there. No moar hoarding! but i will be rebuying you….oh yes i will.

not much to add to this one…had this as my morning tea to ensure one flavoured delicious tea. Only a few cups left of this so i’m sad and happy every time i drink it! :)

other morning tea. No sipdowns today…so much tired, frustration…. loved this one…will be sad when it’s almost done (maybe 3 more cups left!)

Final Count: Still 138.

backlog from yesterday since my internet went poof! trying to work from home today so here’s hoping it doesn’t go poof again. I seriously hate internet providers in canada. all of them.

This was my pick me up tea yesterday and it was a good thing i had it. I LOVE this tea…the deliciousness of it always makes me feel better :) So glad to be back with my cupboard! (even if it IS still unorganised)

i love this tea. And yet..it is getting close to being one of the oldest teas in my cupboard and so i need to stop hoarding it and drink it, love it, enjoy it. But i will be terribly sad when it’s gone. There is something comforting about the smell of this one in both dry and liquid form. It’s just totally yum. But i still have enough for a bunch of Sil sized cups…so i won’t cry…..yet.

I had this last night, in an effort to end the night on a more positive note. I spent more than 12 hours working on christmas eve – a night when most are going home early. As a result we didn’t get out to the store to pick up last minute things for today. Not the end of the world but it made for a super long day. So i bust out two of my favourite “treat” teas to have last night. I’m almost out of this one and it WILL be a reorder. Great tea base, nice flavouring (unless you’re Justjames). it’s one of my happy places.

I had this one tonight – we went out to visit friends who had a baby about a month ago. He is adorable! I have pretty much not accomplished any sipdowns this weekend, which is a sad, sad, thing since i know i’ll be picking up a couple teas at winners/holt’s tomorrow simply because the opportunity to pick up french teas are far and few between here in canada. While that means an increase in cupboard size, i’ve been pretty good about not buying teas recently. I still love this tea, and i’m sure that once it’s gone, i’ll find some way of restocking it :)

backlog from this morning…almost a hint of things to come.

soooo delicious. I had this in the morning and it was a fantastic cup of happy for a super busy day in which i was still exausted (am…) from the weekend’s activities. I’ll be sad when this is fully gone from my cupboard.

another one from nearly 12 hours ago…where did the day go. Still enjoying this a bunch though i suspect this will be all gone before you know it and then i’ll just be wishing for a trip to paris. sigh