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.
People who liked this
Comments
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’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!