Vicky's Sponge Cake

Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | October 2023 | A tea that makes you feel posh

OK, maybe I’m blurring the line between “British” and “posh,” because I’m not sure a Victoria sponge is a particularly posh cake — more of a British classic. Still, close enough!

As always, I’m sad to see this one go. It’s such a satisfying cuppa, so rich and creamy. I brewed it extra strong today and very much enjoyed it.

2023 sipdown count: 52

I’m not a fan of Victoria Sponge, but the tea is soooo much better than the cake! I saw Martin’s review earlier and have been thinking about this ever since, so I made one great big mug with the last of my leaf to give it a great British send-off until I’ve finished a minimum of 207 more teas… yeah, it might be a while. Even though it’s overleafed there’s no astringency, but there is plenty of tart raspberriness (sure, that’s a word) and some vanilla cakiness (also a word). This was the first tea that ever blew me away with a ‘cake’ note, and I still think it’s one of the best out there for recreating the flavour of an actual dessert. I added sugar, and the raspberry note is brighter than ever now, while the vanilla cream cake takes a back seat. Perfect cup for this afternoon.

It’s not ‘goodbye’, Vicky, it’s only ‘see you later’. Sipdown 190/397.

SIPDOWN

That was quick! And I should order more. For mornings it is great tea – it has caffeine boost from black tea base, but it is sweet and fruity from raspberries, bit tart from herbal part of the and everything coated with cake flavour.

I will order more when I will place another order at Bird and Blend!

I thought I had tried this blend before, but looking at the dry leaf once I received it, I don’t think I have. I find it really beautiful! It’s a very tasty tea, and tastes just like a spongey cake drenched in whipped cream and sugared berries. Really, really tasty. I wasn’t thinking and added almond milk (which curdled), but I drank the cup anyway.

TTB #8

I’ve been curious to try this one for quite a while, so I was excited to see it in the tea box! Unfortunately, it was a bit of a letdown for me. I really didn’t get a “cake” vibe from it at all. Hot, it was just a raspberry black tea. As it cooled, I did start to notice a creamy aspect towards the end of the sip and a lingering vanilla aftertaste. Pleasant, but I wanted more!

Day 14 of our Advent Tea Swap. From amandastory516.

I’ve heard of this tea before but didn’t really know what the flavors were meant to be before looking it up here to find that it’s coconut and raspberry. I never would have guessed that from the scent. To me, as weird as this sounds, it smells like mayonnaise and vinegar. Thank goodness that’s not the flavor.

This tea is very light both in color and in flavor, though I did only use one teaspoon so perhaps that’s why. I sweetened it with agave and really that’s all I taste. It still has kind of a sour quality to it, but it doesn’t taste like the sourness of berries. And I definitely don’t get any coconut at all. It’s also just a touch bitter. The reviews on this tea are great so I’m wondering what I did wrong here. I still have plenty left, so I’ll be trying different steeping parameters later on.

EDIT: I’ve added some cream and as it cools I am now tasting the raspberry. Still not my favorite, but it’s much better.

I’m beginning to work on the Bird & Blend Tea gifts that Cameron B. sent me. :D Another company I wanted to try. Thank you Cameron B.!

I put 3.5g in 150 ml so I didn’t have a problem with it being weak that some said in their reviews. I have a bad bad bad habit of drinking tea on an empty stomach. I can get away by sipping Jin Xuan or Lishan, something creamy, but this one burned a hole in my tummy lol. Preparing it this way, I’m sure, didn’t help.

This to me, is raspberry tea. A good one if you love raspberries. I tasted very little of anything else. I loved that it was tart and not sweet. That’s how I love my raspberries, just straight. I like to make the funny face of tasting sour things. ^^ Having said that, I think I would’ve liked a little more cake, coconut or cream in this.. To get that sponge cake taste going on.

I keep saying this, and it gets more true with each cup- I don’t like this.
I am now toying with the idea of just getting rid of it, of letting go of the idea of sipping it down. It maybe just needs to go. And that would be 100% ok if that’s what I decide to do!
I’m not all the way there, but life is too short to drink teas your really, really don’t like.

It’s like vanilla sponge topped with a thin layer of coconut butter/manna, smeared with homemade (slightly tart, slightly sweet) raspberry jam, and served with a dollop of whipped cream.

This tea is so good.

I need more of this tea-STAT. I went thru this one really fast. This tastes just like raspberry jam when brewed hot and when I threw the leaves in a pitcher to cold brew, this tasted just like a cake with raspberry filling. So good. Highly recommend this one.

http://sororiteasisters.com/2015/05/20/vickys-sponge-cake-bluebird-tea/