Violet

I’ve never had anything scented with violet before. It smells fruity and sweetly floral. I’m most excited that Kusmi prefers a China base, and you can definitely taste it. Hunan maybe, possibly blended with Keemun. I’m just throwing out wild guesses.

The actual violet is a bit difficult for me to pick out, but I have no idea what violets smell like, and it is “scented” so I expected to find it more in the nose than on the tongue. It’s less fragrant brewed than dry, but it’s still there. Sweetly floral.

This was a sample given to me over and SOKO’s, since they didn’t have any of the 1oz tins (which Kusmi might not even make for Violet, anyways—I know only some of their teas come in the smaller tins). I like having a taster before committing to one of Kusmi’s jumbo tins (what are those, 4oz minimum?).

I’m still thinking on it, but I’m liking it so far. Granted, I’m still working through that tastebud-problem. I don’t know if I’ve just desensitized myself or if this is a symptom of something (as loss-of-taste often is).

As I sip (REALLY sip—full out slurping here), the China base melts away and I’m getting more of the violet, I think. Sticking with “sweetly floral” as my description. I think this would be a nice tea to have on-hand.

I only did four minutes to test, this time, but next time I’ll do five. I’ve got enough left in my sample for another cup.

Amazingly soft and charming floral aroma. This tea is my first experience with floral teas and a darling in my collection.

I got this in a tea swap from fellow steepsterite Ellyn. I have never tried a tea that is violet based. I was apprehensive at first because I am not a huge fan of floral teas, they have to be extremely specific, otherwise I find them way too pungent and off-putting. I was pleasantly suprised. It is quite mellow, and the black tea comes out strongly within the beginning of the sip but towards the end of the sip, I can taste the floral. I like violet way more than any hibiscus or rose tea I have had as I find it compliments with tea, rather than overpowers it! this was an excellent first venture into a violet tea, and it definitely will not be my last!

Not as sweet as A&D’s magnolia flavored Mermaid’s Kiss or a traditional jasmine, reminds me a little of Easter candy. I’d definitely recommend it.

I fell in love with this tea when I first smelled it. I like violet as a flavor, but it can sometimes be overpowering. This isn’t the case here, though; the violet enhances the black tea and brings out a mellow sweetness in it. It really is a perfectly blended tea.

I was not impressed with this tea. Yes I love the smell of violet, but the tea did not smell or taste fresh and alive to me. Almost stale and muted.

Burrrrrrr! It’s cold as a witch’s you know what outside and I need a little vernal action! Enter Kusmi’s Violet tea.
I am a floral fan, no doubt about that – rose, jasmine, lavender, lychee, orange blossom, osmanthus – I love ‘em all! This is my first violet tea, and it is quite wonderful. It’s floral alright but not overly so. I firmly believe that nonfloral folks would be just fine with this tea – Kusmi is big on subtlety. A four minute steep at 90C yielded a mildly floral tea that was very smooth, even creamy, with a wisp of vanilla. The natural floral, violet sweetness worked brilliantly with the China base. The flavor really is candy like, with no additions required for this cup!
This is the tea that I will drink whilst dreaming about spring. Perhaps, if I remain a well behaved tea drinker, the Easter Bunny will leave me an extra tin of this next month on Easter morning – Better retract that witch comment!

Sometimes you go to Montreal for New Year’s just so you can raid their Kusmi store for strong teas that taste and smell strongly of flowers just so you can drink them on a cold, rainy Monday in January when you’re sitting at your desk at work. Just so.

I don’t love this as much as Bouquet of Fleurs (which I also bought a tin of) because it’s so strong and so violet, but it is exactly what it says on the tin and I am glad it’s so strong this morning. I guess there is a candy smell and taste there, but there is no hint of fake flavor or sweetness. Strong taste of violets, but I love flower tea, so. Just some mornings, I wish I could give my tea a hug.

So, my sister’s birthday was June 30th and I had purchased a 4.4 ounce tin of this tea for her with my Kusmi order a few weeks earlier. This was the tea she was most interested in when I showed her the website, so I figured it would make a nice little gift, especially since their tins are so cute. I didn’t mail it because I knew I was going to be coming to Kansas City soon (she lives here, too). So when I gave her the gift a couple of nights ago and she opened it, I took out a serving for myself and kept it until today. I’m going shopping with her and my mother later today, so I’ll definitely ask her what she thinks of this tea. Dry, this tea smells like floral candy – it’s very sweet. I did my usual French tea method – 1 tsp in 8 ounces of 200 degree water for 3 minutes.

I don’t think I paid much attention to the brewed aroma – oops. In the tea itself, the flavoring is quite mild, especially when it’s still hot. The black tea base is smooth and mellow, nothing special but unobtrusive and drinkable. I don’t consider myself to be terribly familiar with the smell or taste of violets, but it’s definitely a more delicate floral note than I generally encounter (rose, jasmine, etc.). There’s something about it that makes me think that these are sugared violets, not the fresh variety. I definitely get a candy flavor from this tea, even without sugar. I found it altogether pleasant enough, but not something that I would seek out or order. Then again, I’m not big on floral teas generally. :)

Shoot, omitted this one by mistake.

Drank this as I waited for supper to hurry up and be ready.

Sample sipdown! No clue exactly where it came from though, it’s been so long.

I’d rated this 74 before. I feel like that’s a bit high just because I can now safely say I’m not a huge proponent of flowery teas.

This one wasn’t too much, maybe if it were fresher, it would be more floral.As is, I’d say I would recommend this for someone on the fence about floral teas.

Me, I think I will continue to admire flowers from afar, and with my eyes…not my tongue.

Oh yeah, and I’m lowering the rating a bit.