So I might have a small collection of Kitten and the Bear jams because they are awesome. And I obviously have a not-so-small collection of tea. So when I found out that three amazing Toronto businesses teamed up to make beautiful chocolate truffles filled with jam and tea infused ganache, I was all over it. After all, what is better than tea and jam? Tea, jam, and truffles, of course. So from the minds of Chocolates x Brandon Olsen, Kitten and the Bear, and Sloane Fine Tea Merchants, I introduce you to The Jam & Tea Collection.
Black Plum, Darjeeling Tea: I decided to start with this truffle as it seemed to be the simplest of the bunch. At first taste, I got a bright plum flavor from the jam but the ganache simply tasted like a rich chocolate. The aftertaste had a lingering bit of spice that is reminiscent of darjeeling
Lemon, Lavender, Citron Calm Tea: This truffle has a great citrus pop from both the tea and the lemon of the jam, though it is balanced by the chamomile-like apple in the ganache. The lavender was very subtle, which for me is a plus but some might find it lacking.
Orange Marmalade, Ginger Twist Tea: Dark chocolate and chunky orange marmalade combine with the ginger in a chocolate ganache. I am not a chocolate orange kinda girl and this reminds me of a Terry’s Chocolate Orange, but the ginger, gently flavoring the ganache, adds a nice depth to the whole experience.
Strawberry, Raspberry, Heavenly Cream Tea: This is one of the truffles I was most excited about because it is one of the truffles where I have tried and enjoyed both the jam and tea being used, surprising given I am not a fan of Earl Greys. This truffle DEFINITELY delivered. It is amazing. Both the jam and tea are sweet and creamy and that is exactly how one would describe this truffle. The earl grey flavor is most prominent and smooth but it is complimented beautifully by a rich vanilla and the sweet strawberry, raspberry, cream jam. This is crazy sweet and screams dessert.
Classic Strawberry, Marrakesh Mint Tea: Strawberry and mint, a wonderful combination and done perfectly in this truffle. For my personal tastes, I would prefer if this were not a dark chocolate since the mint is already very strong and the dark flavors together make this more of an after-eight treat than a bright strawberry and mint yum. Nevertheless, the richness of the other two components make the sweetness of the jam really stand out.
Palace Chai Caramel: Well this was a surprise. Rather than a layer of ganache and a layer of jam like the other truffles, this is just filled with a thick and creamy salted caramel. But not just any salted caramel, a chai caramel with a great dash of cinnamon warmth.
Blackberry, Plum, Violet, Cassis Vanilla Tea: This is a floral truffle. Juicy berry flavors with a bit of crunch from the seeds in the jam. There is not as much vanilla as I would have hoped but the other flavors are present and delightful.
Banana, Jasmine Pink Lemonade Tea: Hello banana jam! How I love thee. That coupled with a sweet and floral jasmine pink lemonade infused ganache. The jasmine obviously is what contributes the floral note but the ganache also has a pink grapefruit flavor that really rounds things out nicely. A little sweet. A little floral. A little tart. All enrobed in dark chocolate.
Pear, Maple, Lapsang Souchong Tea: I saved this for last. Why? The lapsang. I thought the smoke might leave quite the aftertaste and I didn’t want it to affect the other truffles. This is another truffle I was excited to try because unlike Strawberry, Raspberry, Heavenly Cream, this truffle uses a jam I really wanted to try but sold out before I got to it so luckily this was my chance. This truffle is like a sweet campfire. Smoke takes over while the maple coats the tongue. Pear pieces add texture and a bit of flavor but its the maple and lapsang that take over. If you’re not one for smoke this will not be for you but if you’re open to it, it is a great flavor duo done beautifully.
These truffles make for a great treat and I mean really what else would you expect when three renowned Toronto businesses work together.
Here’s the scoop!
Where to Buy: CXBO & Kitten and the Bear & Sloane Fine Tea Merchants
Product Review: White Chocolate with Jumpy Monkey Yerba Mate from DAVIDsTEA
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate/Chocolate
Where to Buy: DAVIDsTEA
Tea Description:
Looking for a rich and decadent pick-me-up? Check out this deliciously creamy chocolate bar, a combination of the finest imported white chocolate and our java-spiked Jumpy Monkey tea. With yerba mate, cocoa nibs and coffee beans, it makes for an exotic taste of the rainforest at its finest. Made in partnership with a Montreal chocolatier.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve had this tea before as a latte, and as far as I can remember it wasn’t too impressive. Kind of run of the mill, actually? However I was still pretty pumped to see it in chocolate bar format at the store yesterday because, first off, I love white chocolate though also because even though I’m not a huge fan of coffee I have a special place in my heart for white chocolate coated coffee beans. My Dad used to buy them in bulk, and late at night I’d sneak into the kitchen (when I was around eleven) and eat small handfuls out of the bag in the pantry. And of course, I’d have problems falling asleep after that…
However, this is a slight let down if I’m being honest. I mean, the white chocolate is really good! I love the white chocolate that DAVIDsTEA uses for these chocolate bars. The problem, for me, is that it really over powers the flavour of the tea/coffee. It doesn’t help part of the profile of this tea is white chocolate in the first place. I’m conflicted by this. One thing I dislike about DAVIDsTEA’s chocolate bars is that the infused chunks are often too large but in this rare occasion I really wanted more large pieces because without them the tea is lost. I wish there was a better way to ensure a more consistent size for the pieces used in these chocolate bars, but I don’t know what the best way to go about finding it would be. However, it does at least seems like DAVIDsTEA is trying to do that because these newer bars do at least seem to consistently use smaller pieces and I know that was something that was really being criticized prior to the change. So I commend them for that.
But without the flavour of the tea, this is just a super expensive white chocolate bar.
