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“Other than the orange element, there is no way I could not tell this is supposed to be like gingerbread. Which is odd because I don’t normally pair orange with gingerbread. But Orange and Ginger...” Read full tasting note
“I had a lovely cup of this over the holidays at my SILs cabin in the wilds of Virginia…it was just wonderful, the spiced molasses flavor strong, but not too strong. perfect for a cold winter...” Read full tasting note
“I saw this tea when I was looking on the Harney & Sons website for my favorite Gingerbread Festival tea. In honor of the season, I decided to give the Williamsburg Holiday Heritage tea and...” Read full tasting note
A true Colonial Williamsburg tradition, the iconic ginger cakes baked at the Raleigh Tavern bakery have been a coveted favorite for generations of visitors. Let the festive aroma of Williamsburg Ginger Cake tea warm your home and spirit this holiday season. A rich black tea with cloves, cinnamon, and molasses to warm the season.
Your purchase of Williamsburg products supports the research, preservation, and educational programs of the non-profit Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Ingredients: Black tea, ginger root, orange peel, cinnamon, molasses flavor, orange flavor, vanilla flavor, cloves. Contains natural flavors.
Since 1983 Harney & Sons has been the source for fine teas. We travel the globe to find the best teas and accept only the exceptional. We put our years of experience to work to bring you the best Single-Estate teas, and blends beyond compare.
Other than the orange element, there is no way I could not tell this is supposed to be like gingerbread. Which is odd because I don’t normally pair orange with gingerbread. But Orange and Ginger is a really good combination. The after taste is wild how much this gives gingerbread vibes. There’s a faint sweetness, but not too much.
As it cools, the flavor becomes significantly more orange and clove with a bit of ginger. Not a fan of the combination of orange and clove.
Second steep, sweet orange and ginger when hot, orange clove when cold.
The feeling of gingerbread has died out as well. I think because the ginger is fading and the orange and clove are standing out more. I could do with more of a hint of orange than the strong orange I am getting. And the clove could go jump off a cliff.
I got excited right after the first steep, but the feeling I got then changes so much as this goes, and its moving into a direction I don’t enjoy.
I had a lovely cup of this over the holidays at my SILs cabin in the wilds of Virginia…it was just wonderful, the spiced molasses flavor strong, but not too strong. perfect for a cold winter afternoon right after a hike up a mountain.
Flavors: Cinnamon, Molasses, Orange, Spices
I saw this tea when I was looking on the Harney & Sons website for my favorite Gingerbread Festival tea. In honor of the season, I decided to give the Williamsburg Holiday Heritage tea and this one a try as well. At the first sip there is a warm, spicy flavor but no one particular spice stands out. After the initial warm spice flavor, there’s a subtle molasses taste but it’s not as predominant as it is in the Gingerbread Festival tea. There’s also a subtle orange flavor but, again, it’s very blended and, for me, no one flavor dominates.
I have no idea how a Williamsburg Ginger Cake tastes but if it’s anything like this tea I may have to find a recipe. I think this will become one of those seasonal Harney teas that I will splurge on every winter. I only wish it was available loose as well as in the sachets.
Flavors: Cinnamon, Cloves, Molasses, Orange, Spices
How do these compare to their Holiday tea? I have a tin of that one so I don’t want to buy anything too similar until I finish it.
To me, this one is very similar to Gingerbread Festival, but with added orange, and the Holiday Heritage one is very similar to Hot Cinnamon Spice.
I would have to agree with Cameron B. Williamsburg Ginger Cake is similar to Gingerbread Festival. I find the latter has more of a molasses flavor well Ginger Cake has a subtle orange flavor. Williamsburg Holiday Heritage has a very strong red hot cinnamon flavor to it.
Thank you both! I already have the Hot Cinnamon Spice, so I may pass on the Williamsburg blends and only buy a tin of the Gingerbread Festival. I’ve seen a few people mention it here, so I’ve been wanting to try it.
It’s so good, definitely the best gingerbread tea IMO! Let me know if you’d like a sample before buying. :)
I second that opinion – Gingerbread Festival is the best gingerbread tea I’ve ever had. I only wish it came in loose as well as sachet. I will say, I really like the Williamsburg Ginger Cake, but if you’re only getting one, Gingerbread Festival would be the one.
Thank you, Cameron! I had a couple of other blends on my list, so I bought a tin. With all the praise, I can’t imagine I wouldn’t like it. If I don’t, I know a few people here I can send it to! :D
You might try their Gingerbread Festival, it’s very similar but no orange!
Interestingly orange and gingerbread is a seemingly more normal combination in parts of Europe. One of the suppliers we work with sends up German and Danish gingerbread/cookies from Europe every year and the gingerbread almost always has orange in it and is just much fruitier overall.
I’ll have to look into Gingerbread Festival.
My issue with the orange is the combination with clove. Its just a combination that doesn’t sit well with me. As a kid during the winter my mom would put a pot of water on the stone with a cinnamon sticks, a small handful of cloves, and a manky old orange due for the garbage. She did this to add moisture to the dry air and add a nice scent. And at the end of the day, I was usually the one who had to clean out that pot.
So now clove and orange makes me think of manky, stinky, mushy old oranges. :)
It is common here to add orange to the tin or box with gingerbread to soften the cookies. Dunno how it works, but it does.
I love Gingerbread Festival, but I haven’t tried Williamsburg Ginger Cake. I dislike clove except in tiny amounts, so I probably would not like this as well.