FiveOcloCk

First Boutique Dammann Frères in Milan

Dammann Frères, the famous French brand of tea, opened his first boutique in Italy, in Milan. I was this morning at the opening  and I liked it! The shop warm, cozy, elegant. When you get it you are surrounded by boxes of tea placed on shelves in dark wood. It is located in a central area of ​​Milan, Piazza XXV April, close to Corso Garibaldi, easy to reach, halfway between the stations of Moscow and Porta Garibaldi. Nice idea to put a large table at the entrance with all the tea leaves, so that, sniffing, you can have a clearer idea of ​​what you are looking for.

At the opening of boutique Dammann Frères were Stefano Guibertoni, CEO of Domori, a group company that distributes in Italy the French tea, Anna Maggia, an expert on tea and an ambassador of the brand in Italy, and Didier Jumeau Lafond, President of Dammann Frères, with his young daughter Flora, Sales Manager of the house.

The boutique Dammann Frères is the eighth in the world (the fourth property). After the three prestigious location in Paris (the first in Place des Vosges was opened in September 2008), two in Japan, one in Austria and others in the United Arab Emirates, that’s the first in Italy. Inside you will find hundreds of tea (many Christmas teass) and from January 2013 it will start a full program of courses on tea, tastings and much more to enhance and promote the culture of tea. Every day you can then try the tea of ​​the day.

Of Dammann Frères we had already spoken long ago, but I repeat something … the French brand of tea was established in 1692 and since then selects and produces quality tea. In the 50s it was the first company to produce tea flavored with natural flavors.
And for the future? “We’re looking at a new concept – says the president Didier Jumeau Lafond – something different, large, which will be a special place, which will be able to surprise and attract new generations.” Meanwhile, we have just made a new format in Switzerland: weddings with tea. Any dish of the wedding party are associated with a different tea, instead of a wine, as usual. “Marriage tea is very elegant, cheap and chic,” adds Didier Jumeau Lafond.

Meanwhile, if you want to visit the first boutique Dammann Frères in Italy you just need to pass in Piazza XXV April in Milan from Saturday, December 2

Good tea to everyone! (29/11/2012)

Tasting in Milan

Have you ever tried Dammann Frères teas? Yesterday Afternoon I went to an interesting tasting tea organized by Dammann Frères in Milan. Our “guide” was Aline Guglielmino, flavorist, author of the famous melange of the French house blend. What a nice event!

The first tea was the Russian Goût Douchka, the historic blend of Dammann Frères, created in the Fifties by Jean Jumeau-Lafond as a tribute to his russian wife Douchka, who didn’t like bergamot and then he covered it by the aromas of lemon and orange. The result? A very cool product, suitable for biscuits or pastry orange peel.

The second cup was Macaron Cassis Violette, a Chinese sencha flavored with black currant, violet and amaretto. Almond was the strongest taste, because, as Aline said, this flavor is less volatile than others due to its molecular weight.

Moving on to the third tea. Its name was Bali, a Chinese sencha flavored with jasmine, rose petals, lychee and grapefruit. Aline said that, depending on whether served hot or cold, the prevailing taste change… interesting, isn’t it?

The fourth cup was a black tea named Coquelicot Gourmand, flavored with poppy, pink peony, almond, blueberry and biscuit… a very peculiar product!

Next tea was perfect for this season. I’m talking about Christmas Tea. Damman Frères one is special because it doesn’t taste spicy, as the usual, but it’s favored with orange, pineapple, rhum and orange peel. This blend was created in 1988.

At this point, Aline asked me what I liked more, and I sincerely had no idea, I wanted to tasted all of them over ad over again. She looked at me and said: “Next you’ll be your favorite.” It could not be otherwise: we had the same name, Charlotte. This tea is amazing, it seems to drink chocolate but it’s tea with no added flavors of cocoa. That’s because it is a Chinese black tea Keenum which has a natural flavor reminiscent of chocolate.

The last tea, Tourbillon, was a black tea flavored with candied apricot, orange blossom, caramel and marron glacés … very special! Then I love marron glacé! (19/02/2012)