Violette

This tea has such a silky-smooth mouth feel. The other mariage freres tea that I have tried (Marco Polo) had the same delightful feeling.

The aroma in this tea is VERY prominent. The violet flavor is very distinguishable. There is a slight perfumy aftertaste that is not at all cloying like some other foral teas.

just a really short note, because I have just been remembered of this.

I love violets, in perfume and in candy and preferably in the flesh – some of the sweetest, wildest, more perfect of flowers. A perfect flower and a perfect flower scent.

Now I have been lucky enough to try a few violet teas, a strange idea which can be surprisingly good. Two of those teas came from Ysaurella, a Dammann Freres versions and the Mariage Freres version. This might just be the only tea concept ever where I think the Dammann take is better (and pricier!) than the Mariage Freres one. Very good, but somehow only the second best violet tea I ever had – try Dammann´s instead. (Though, do not extrapolate from that to other kinds of tea!)

Everything violet flavored just makes me wish I could live in France already.

I think I prefer Violette to Kusmi’s Violet. It seemed to only taste right when I prepared it a certain way. This one smells so much stronger, which I was worried about at first. As it steeped, the aroma carried over to me and it was just SO GOOD.

So of course actually drinking the tea was amazing too. It’s far more floral, but not like soap at all. It’s sweet and smooth.

There needs to be more violet flavored things around here. I think there is a gelato shop here that does flower flavors, they must have one. I just have no idea when it’s ever open! And of course one of my favorite cocktails is the Aviation with creme de violette.

Thank you for sharing this with me, Ellyn!

follow up: 3rd steep was still really good. the 4th steep, a full steep, is still as flowery as the first (the earlier steeps were shorter tho, eastern style) <3

5th is still ok, less tea but still good flower flavor :)

I have the habit to drink the Dammann Frères Violette.
This one is just so different, incredible.
The DF Violette is more a candy Violette, the MF Violette is a flowery Violette.
That’s it ! I like both.
The tea base is really nice, smooth. The flavour is for sure floral and it just tastes like a violet. I get something additional, something like a hint of acidity, like a cloud of pure lemon juice- but I don’t think there is lemon, this is weird.

I like both blends but prefer the Dammann Frères one.

Backlogged.
Om nom nom.

I just read this is Dita Von Teese’s staple, then remembered I have this in my cupboard!
Went on to try it with sweetener and almond milk.
Lesson: Always trust Mariage Frères.

Just like the name says. Even Mariage Freres has only this to say:
“Traditional violet flavoured tea.”

What?! No “tender notes of violet beckon the first precious days of spring. A tea to be savoured while frolicking in a green meadow?” Come on, Mariage Freres. You’re slipping.

That said, the violet is strong over the typically good quality MF black tea base. I also get a note of what seems to be lavender. I suspect natural violet on its own is quite subtle, so it seems a bit of lavender might be used to enhance the floral profile.

MF recommends steeping for 5 minutes (!) but 3-4 seemed plenty to me. It’s good for 2-3 steeps whilst retaining the nice floral notes.

I got this since I thought I liked floral tea. After having many of Mariage Freres teas, I think I don’t. This tea is really overpowering of violet (given the name, duh!). It makes for an ok iced tea. I don’t like it hot, too much. I think it might make a nice milk tea. I think buying 50g of this tea is ok, I got 100g, it’s just a bit too much.

Thanks for the sample Cameron B :)

I like the scent and taste of the violet in this tea! The sweetness is a nice touch. Like most flavored Frenchy teas, the base is mild and unobtrusive. Not bad, glad I got to try it, but probably won’t seek it out again.

This tea was one of my personal gifts from Ellyn from the TTB last week. Yay French teas! For some reason, the dry leaf smells like pickle brine to me. Isn’t that odd? I’ve encountered this smell in a couple of other flavored teas too! Very strange.

The brewed aroma is very sugary and candy-like! To be fair, this was how the Kusmi version smelled too – I’m not sure if violets are super sweet or something? The taste is quite sweet as well, in a powdered sugar kind of way. I think I enjoy violet as a flavor, it’s floral but much less offensive then others. That being said, this is some strong flavoring! I’m really glad I only steeped for 3 minutes. Even with the somewhat short steep, it’s quite perfumey, especially near the end. Not bad though! Especially considering I don’t love floral in general.