Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
So here we are: I started with a bold blend of Assam teas; none of those lighter crisper teas for this blend, this is to be a deep, rich experience. Into that blend of Assam teas, I’ve added organic cacao nibs for a bittersweet, dark-chocolatey experience and real cashew pieces along with all natural chocolate, caramel and cashew flavors.
If you can open a pouch of this tea and your mouth doesn’t instantly start to water, you might want to check your pulse. This folks, is a Dessert tea with a capital “D”. Enjoy it, and don’t miss out. It’s not going to last long!
Taster’s Review:
This tea was announced the second week after I had purchased my first subscription (well, actually, I had received a gift subscription a few months back, so that was technically my first subscription, but this was the first that I purchased) from 52Teas, and it just solidified the fact that I NEED to keep a running subscription for 52Teas. Chocolate, caramel and cashew? Yeah, my mouth was watering by the time I had finished reading the name of the tea!
And it’s SO GOOD!
But I have to tell you, I didn’t think so the first time I steeped it. I had forgotten that this was made with an Assam base instead of the usual blend of Nilgiri and Assam teas that 52Teas uses for their black tea blends. And, well, I oversteeped it. It was still alright… but, kind of just … meh. You know? Not all that exciting. It tasted bitter and the bitterness sort of overwhelmed the flavors of chocolate, caramel and cashew. What I tasted mostly was oversteeped tea.
But I didn’t give up. I altered the steeping parameters slightly: using my Breville One-Touch (have I mentioned lately how much I love this machine?), I set the thermometer for 205°F instead of 212°F (boiling). I set the timer for 2 1/2 minutes. And? Perfection!
The Assam is rich and malty, and these characteristics offer just the right platform for the chocolate and caramel flavors to express themselves. The chocolate tastes like a dark chocolate – it has that deep, bittersweet flavor. (If you prefer a milk chocolate-y flavor, you can add a splash of milk to the cup) The caramel is sweet and creamy.
The best part about this blend (at least as far as my sweet tooth is c0ncerned) is that the chocolate and caramel are about equal. They aren’t competing with one another, the chocolate doesn’t overwhelm the caramel flavor; which is so often the case when it comes to teas with both chocolate and caramel flavors. The nutty flavor of the cashew gives this cup a really delicious dimension.
It’s even better when the leaves are infused a second time! Delicious served hot, straight up with no additions; it is also quite nice with a little sugar which helps to define the caramel-y undertones. A little milk makes this a really creamy experience. Personally, I prefer it straight-up, but, I certainly would never say no to a latte!
This is so YUMMY!
