I downloaded the test for the fix HHH-8529
https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-orm/blob/4.3.6.Final/hibernate-entitymanager/src/test/java/org/hibernate/jpa/test/convert/CollectionElementConversionTest.java
It runs correctly in my environment.

The above test is with EntityManagerFactory. When I try the same test with SessionFactory, I still hit the problem
Could not determine type for: ... ColorType

Does the fix also apply to SessionFactory? Or did I miss something in building the SessionFactory?

Turns out there are issues with both Hibernate and Spring

https://hibernate.atlassian.net/browse/HHH-9409
https://jira.spring.io/browse/SPR-12234

There is no simple way to make @Covert work with @ElementCollection using Spring LocalSessionFactoryBean.