cteresa

Wow, just realized I got at home right now samples from none less than 3 different Mariage Fréres teas named after operas : Prince Igor and Aïda (thank you Ysaurella) and Elixir d´Amour (thank you toitoi!). And I knew there were a few more operas, just went checking and they got even more teas named after operas – Madame Butterfly, Parsifal, Bal Masqué, any more? Plus of course, cheating a bit Swan Lake and Thé à L´Opèra. Hmm.

Aida, I am not going to rate right now, if I can manage to not rate it. I think I brewed it too cold and just come out wrong. It is totally and completely a citrus tea and for me, weirdly this would be a russian tea – citrus and black tea (Far more than Prince Igor, which is to me is a very french tea!). Lemon and oranges, and somehow, maybe because of the temperature used, so sweet! Amazingly sweet (no sugar added or anything) on its own. Another tasting note when i brew it hotter.

2012-12-13 08:28:45 -0500

190 °F / 87 °C

4 min 45 sec

I Like This

10 likes

2 comments

People who liked this

Comments

Ysaurella 2013-01-29 16:03:27 -0500

you can add Vivaldi in your list…cheating as well …but great musician :)
Give another try to Aïda, it’s not so sweet. But you’re right, it is like an Earl Grey somehow and very near a russian earl grey or French Russian Earl Grey like Douchka Goût Russe from Dammann Frères

cteresa 2013-01-29 16:08:02 -0500

Great minds think alike and all that – I had a cup yesterday and it was lovely indeed. Though to me it is a russian earl grey – maybe with some grapefruit or I am imagining it? It is going to the list of my favorite earl grey variations!

Profile

Bio

Bad weather tea drinker – I drink tons, too much to count, from October till March and then when it gets hotter I will drink very little tea and only cold water will do for me. I hang around steepster much more frequently in (northern hemisphere) cold season.

- Teas -

I tend to prefer black tea, though am I always willing to try anything once. I like flavoured black teas but right now I seem to prefer green teas unflavoured.

I am one of those people who actually loves Lapsang Souchong. I am not crazy about Earl Grey in general. I don´t quite get Darjeeling teas, but maybe I can learn… I got a weakness for floral scents – jasmine green, black rose, osmanthus white, violet tea…

I like rooibos, though not all, but I loathe hibiscus. I do not like fennel/liquorice/anise in blends or teas with chicory. I am picky about what I consider true cinnamon.

I am not too dogmatic, I am even borderline heretical, regarding the loose vs bagged thing. I would rather use a teabag, bought or home filled than have a pot of tea overbrew. And hermetically sealed foil wrapping for tea bags are a great great invention.

As you can probably tell from my cupboard, the brands I find more interesting right now are Mariage Fréres, Yumchaa and Thé-o-Dor. And Twinings tea often works just right for me.