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“2021 sipdown no. 125 Thanks Cameron for sending this my way! This one is kind of like chewing a children’s grape Tylenol and chasing it with a piece of creamy dark chocolate behind it. No thanks.” Read full tasting note
“I so wanted to love this, but it’s just not good. I sadly can’t taste any violet. It’s just a very chalky, artificial chocolate flavor.” Read full tasting note
“I rarely post a review here that I did for Sororitea Sisters, because I figure I already wrote it a while back and not today, and I feel inept at posting them here! I don’t like to just do the link...” Read full tasting note
“I wanted so much to do a SIPDOWN, but couldn’t decided which flavoured tea I would like to drink, so I made a line of them, counted them and let the random.org choose a tea for me. If I was clever...” Read full tasting note
A chocolate box classic with a B&B twist. Sit back and relax with a nostalgic violet tea that will take you back to being at Grandma’s house.
Ingredients
Sri Lankan black tea, cocoa nibs, mallow flowers, flavouring.
Company description not available.
I so wanted to love this, but it’s just not good. I sadly can’t taste any violet. It’s just a very chalky, artificial chocolate flavor.
I rarely post a review here that I did for Sororitea Sisters, because I figure I already wrote it a while back and not today, and I feel inept at posting them here! I don’t like to just do the link because then the people reading have to work too hard, clicking a link and going to another page and all. Ha ha! But this was a gift from Martin Bednar so I wanted to post it! I just copy/pasted so you don’t have to click a link! I will include the link anyway, but here it is!
http://www.sororiteasisters.com/2021/01/04/violet-cream-bird-and-blend-ashmanra/
A friend sent some samples for me to try from far across the sea! This is my first time drinking Bird and Blend as far as I recall, and this is the B&B tea I was most excited to try! I generally enjoy floral teas very much and violet seems so exotic as violet flavored things are rare where I live.
I am “one of those people” who likes violet candy. The first one I tried was very strong and I didn’t like it. It felt like I ate a bath bomb. But then I somehow missed that flavor. I tried another brand and I don’t know if it was milder or sweeter or if I just developed a taste for it, but I could eat a whole pack in one sitting if I didn’t use restraint. (I don’t, by the way, always use restraint.)
I was so madly excited to try this that I took out my most foofoo china and sat at the dining table with pink camellias in front of me in a silverplate gravy boat and fetched a fancy cookie. I am going for the whole experience here.
Mmmmm, the aroma is divine! This is a soft, sweet violet and somehow like sniffing a very fine, delicate talcum, in the best sort of way. The scent is very dreamy and creamy. It doesn’t assault my senses like cheap bubble bath.
I did not get a strong chocolate aroma, but I have never had chocolate covered violets, so maybe this is spot on. In fact, I wondered where the chocolate was. It seemed to actually smell of cream, not just have a creamy mouthfeel.
The chocolate part of this blend is (hallelujah!) cocoa nibs instead of chocolate flavoring. I dug through my infuser basket and found a nib and ate it. Ah, yes, this is what I thought was the cream. Sometimes cream is really just vanilla added to a blend, but this was legitimately creamy tasting and smelling and now I see it somehow came from the cocoa nibs!
All in all, a wonderful elevenses today and this is a blend I would definitely purchase.
I’m guessing you’ve eaten Choward’s Violet Candy? That’s the only one I’ve ever tried and while it has an odd taste, it’s addictive.
YES! I LOVE them. And the guava candies, too. They are potent! Ha ha! My daughter bought some for my stocking and hid them in her room. She says her bedroom may never smell the same.
At least I know what to look for when being in the US (among thousands of other items). Haha!
Martin Choward’s Violet Candy is British so if you have tea friends in the U.K., I bet they’d gladly send you some. Still, add them to your “I will buy this in America” (long) list. : )
I’ve never had chocolate covered violets before, only sugar coated ones. The violet pastels are good too if you don’t mind an anise seed in the middle. They are called Les Anis de Flavigny Violet Flavored Anise Candy.
Izzy? Next time! Hahaha!
White Antlers: I thought they were British too but I looked them up and they are actually based in New York!
I think Parma Violets are British, though.
“It felt like I ate a bath bomb.” hehehe Ashmanra
ashmanra Ha! Thanks; I stand corrected and yes, Parma IS a British company. So, Martin, perhaps Izzy can send you some Parma Violets!
Dustin those pastilles are a spin off of comfits. Comfits go back a few centuries (16th century, I think) and were originally caraway seed based and eaten as carminitative ‘medicine’ at the end of a heavy meal to help digestion and prevent gas.
Well I learned a new word today! I love the Indian sugar coated fennel seed candies too, which you just taught me are comfits! Also, caraway aids in digestion?! Didn’t know that either.
Chowards Violet candies are delicious indeed!
I wanted so much to do a SIPDOWN, but couldn’t decided which flavoured tea I would like to drink, so I made a line of them, counted them and let the random.org choose a tea for me. If I was clever enough to don’t include the new teas… I would not open tea from AUGUST 2020 subscription
So yeah, I am having a fresh new tea, so new, it isn’t on their website yet.
Opened the pouch and something familiar hit my nose. I found out bit later it is dark chocolate covered violets with vanilla notes. They have this line on their pouch and it is exactly that I think. Dark chocolate with strong violet aroma. Vanilla not that much. Typical set-up; DIY tea bags (need to buy new box (100 pcs)), two teaspoons, 300 ml cup.
Steeped for recommended 4 minutes and well, cloudy copper brew appeared. I probably overleafed it or steeped for long as, well, it is quite bitter with vanilla aroma. And cocoa aftertaste. It is as well somehow floral from violets and all the tastes/aromas are fighting each other what should be the most present and best for tea.
But as it cools down, it has specific flavour, which is nice! It reminds me some floral Darjeelings a bit (but not that smooth). I think I will try it again with shorter steeping. Or less leaf? I am just sad there is no violets in, instead there are mallow flowers. Probably cheaper?
Flavors: Dark Chocolate, Floral, Vanilla, Violet
Sounds like a tea that I would really like, Martin. I believe I’ll have to place an order for this when it becomes available on their website. If this tea reminds you at all of a floral Darjeeling, my favorite kind of tea, I know I’ll enjoy it!
It is unique tea flavour. There were hints of floral, then hints of cocoa, some vanilla. I don’t really undestand what I have drank :D
Hopefully you will enjoy that as well!
Wow. Sounds like a lot going on in that tea! From an herbal/medicinal perspective, violets are good pain relievers, as one of their components is salicylic acid, also found in aspirin. Since you saw no violets, Martin, I wonder if it was only violet flavoring that was used?
I need to do the randomizer trick to get rid of some of my old stock. Good idea!
I tried Violet tea for the first time recently and fell in love! Shame this wasn’t out yet when B&B had their “Christmas in July” sale and I made an order when they had free International Shipping, or I definitely would’ve picked some up!
White Antlers: It is indeed interesting tea. Yes, unfortuantely only flavouring is used as it is written in ingredients too. No violets.
gmathis: It keeps me avoid the choosing paralysis. There are so many teas I would like to drink after all.
Mastress Alita: Such a shame. I haven’t placed an order during “Christmas in July” though as well. I tempted, but then decided against. I have too many teas.
Oh this one sounds amazing!
Mastress Alita – I’m so glad you were finally able to order some teas! :D
It was a special situation, tea-sipper… namely, free international shipping when I normally can’t order from them at all cause their shipping is just too much. :-P I also bought some tea for my house anniversary. I’ve made a total of four tea orders for the entire year so far.
When B&B has free shipping it is almost impossible to resist. haha
For those who are interested: It’s ready for your orders! Available
Ha ha ha, ew! I didn’t even try it because violet lol.
Hahaha! I’d never had violet before (I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in any teas I’ve come across), but it was closer to rose than lavender, so not for me — though always happy to try new teas. :)
That’s a very specific description. I think I can actually taste it.
Shae perhaps I should apologise haha!
I agree with Shae I could practically taste your description of it. I feel like violet is one of those love-it-or-hate-it flavors for people. I’m on the love it side though. I love the Choward’s violet candies but my mom thinks they taste like soap.