Violet Black Tea

So apparently I’m the first person to review this tea!

Anyhow, the aroma is very…. interesting. It smells almost soapy, but not, just more in the sense that the aroma is one that one would more likely associate with bath products as opposed to tea. Flavourwise it’s flowery and sweet (not sugary, though), and I suppose, “spring-y” as the description mentions. Quite an interesting aroma. My lack of palate training is definitely hurting me here! The black tea base is fairly unassuming, strong enough to back the violet flavour well, but not interfering with the flavouring. There’s also very little astringency at the recommended infusion time of 3 minutes.

Overall, probably not a tea I’d re-purchase, but certainly one that has helped to satiate my curiousity as to what “violet flavour” tastes/smells like!

ETA: Second infusion is pretty similar.

So this is what violets taste like. Huh.
I don’t think I like it. Well, I want to… like it. And I can almost get there, but nope, it isn’t happening.
Shame, I expected to enjoy this one! After sampling the candied violets at Sloane tea, which this tastes almost identical to, I was positive I’d fall in love! After all, it’s essentially the same flavour profile… sweet floral and what? somehow the liquid vs candied form makes that much of a difference? I am a texture oriented person, so I should have known really. No reason it should take me by surprise but it does nonetheless.
So… if you are a person who loves floral tea, this is the one for you! don’t let my review stop you. It isn’t bitter or astringent at all, and I think it will go nicely in baking!
As for soapiness, I would say that it tastes the way lavender soap smells. Not the way it tastes, at all! I’ve accidentally eaten soap suds before and they are vile terrible things. Likewise, I’ve had tea that tastes like soap suds, which this one does not. So when I say that this tea is slightly soapy, I mean that in the most pleasant way possible. If there is such a thing. (not that I enjoy it, but I can see how someone would. In fact this might be foisted on the Mumster)

I’m sipping on this while I’m impatiently waiting for my supper to be ready so I can scarf it down and get back to work. Mmm, violet. It could use a better base, though.

Sip Down & Backlog

The aroma is heavenly with a nice perfumy (floral, vanilla, & pear) note dominating the room! The floral note takes the lead with this mug, and offered a unique tea experience.

You really have to love violets to enjoy this tea. Luckily, I do but it’s very flowery and borderline powdery/ soapy. I recommend just 1 tsp per 8 oz

Great Steepster Freeze of 2020 Review #1 (08/02/20)

Only two black teas left from my teabox stash, so I’m working through my sipdowns steadily! This came from the Discovery Teabox, so thanks to Skysamurai for organizing and all who contributed! I love floral teas, but have never had violet before, so I was definitely curious about trying this one!

I made my 5g sampler as a small 500ml pot of tea, western style, 205F for a 3 minute steep for breakfast. The aroma of the dry leaf is very interesting, a strong and sweet floral aroma, which comes out just as strongly in the steeped tea. It smells sort of like a candied or soda sweetness (though none I’ve ever had). It’s… really good! Easily on par for me with rose and lavender flavors… it’s a really fragrant and sweet floral flavor, and the black tea base is very smooth, with a subtle honeyed note that accompanies the florality nicely. I think this is a tea I could gladly keep stocked, and while I know florals are hit and miss for a lot of people I do wonder why I see violet as a flavor option so little now.

Thanks for the sample, tea-sipper!

This is my first time trying a violet tea, so I really didn’t know what to expect. As others have said before, it does have a soapy/perfumy scent to it, but it’s not unpleasant.

Considering this is my first violet tea, I had no idea what it would taste like – but I really like it! It’s not too overpowering with the scent/flavor, but enough to where it reminds you, “Hey, I’m a violet tea!” Seems like this would also be a really good cold/iced tea.
Overall I really liked this one!

Sample saved from the tea box. When I was a kid, my mom would always carry violet candies in her purse, and this tastes just like those. I never really liked the violet candies, but for whatever reason, they were compelling enough that I’d eat them anyway. I added a fair amount of sugar, which adds a pleasant sweetness. The main flavor is violet. I don’t taste the black base at all. So if you want a violet tea, this is really it! The flavor and scent are very strong. Thanks for bringing back memories, tea!

I had to try this one. Who else carries a violet tea? To be honest, I have no idea what violets specifically smell or taste like. The purple flowers in the blend add a nice touch. But this one is delightful. I’d say there couldn’t possibly be a better floral flavor. It has a lovely balance of floral but not too floral, balanced with a delicious sweetness. The black tea base is quite light, but with the floral accent it’s not boring. Without the floral, there is no way I’d steep up this black tea by itself plain. I’d say the first cup was perfect. On the second steep, the flavor wasn’t how I wanted it to be. Somehow there was quite a spicy flavor that took over? I should have waited a few minutes to steep. However, as it cooled, the flavor returned to that delicious flavor of the first cup, so flavor saved! I’ll try to remember that next time. Overall, I have no way to be sure this is accurately representing VIOLET, but as a floral tea, it couldn’t be tastier.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug// 17 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // 2 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep

Sipdown no. 55 of 2018 (no. 411 total).

This did grow on me some, though I still find it a tad soapy and I prefer the Kusmi overall. So I’m bumping the rating.

I had considered trying this cold, but ultimately decided against that. I figured the cold wouldn’t help the tendency toward soapy/lotiony. Part of me feared it would create suds.