This is interesting – I bought this with very low expectations, as it sounds so generic – I mean, caramel this or caramel that seems to be in everything – it’s hardly a novelty.
Then again, it’s Lupicia, so I absolutely had to try it.
In the bag, this is a boozefest – a very liqueurey caramel, which really does veer far closer to hazelnut. I think this would have been the potentially fatal flaw of this tea – the blend of sweet, thick dulce de leche caramel and the roasty houjicha adds up to something very close to hazelnut/walnut/whatevernut tea, as it is generally presented in much lesser (yes, I mean German) blends.
But even though the flavour is very familiar, Lupicia take it to another level entirely. This is what really does it for me with their teas – they never feel disgusting or wrong in any way. I have never had a green anynut-flavoured tea that didn’t make my throat slightly itchy as the liquid cooled, or that wasn’t thick and oily from the leaf. But this one? No – every sip is clean and smooth, all toasted nut caramel. Even cold, the dregs of this are beautiful. I’d latte the fuck out of this one if I could.
I don’t want any of the other nut teas anymore (coconut, you are exempt and may go back to your seat) because this is all I’m going to need. (And I haven’t felt like that about anything since, say, February 2012 or so.)
[From my Lupicia order to Rome, April 2014.]
Preparation
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Anna, we are tea twins today!!!
Mmmm, reading your review reminded me how much I love this tea even though I haven’t tasted it in years. I need to pick some up!
want
VariaTEA – yes! And now I REALLY REALLY have to try Japon even more, haha.
CHAroma – have you had it with milk? Was it good?
Siller – add it to the swaplist, then. Type type! Swift pawfeets!
swap list! oh noes..my hairs, they were slacking…
I am always happy to share some Japon :)
Sil – Siller Slackerhairs.
VariaTEA – Aww, that’s so sweet of you. Well, it certainly doesn’t seem like I’ll be getting it any other way (SIDE-EYE LAURENT) so let’s consider a swap, maybe? =)
Haha I think we decided like a month ago to swap and nothing ever came of it :P. This time, we must be proactive
Oh, the SWAMP that is my inbox. I really must try to go through it some day, but all those nice messages! I love them! Nooooo.
Do you remember what we talked about swapping then?
The last time I tried this tea was back in 2010 before I found Steepster. I believe I drank it straight with no additions.
Oh, it’s definitely time to get some more and see if your palate changed! Always scary, but interesting.
I have no idea. I just remember we decided in the comments of another tasting note and then nothing ever happened. Haha. C’est la vie.
Haha, yeah – but let’s make it happen. I’ll come find you after my deadlines.
Anna, we are tea twins today!!!
Mmmm, reading your review reminded me how much I love this tea even though I haven’t tasted it in years. I need to pick some up!
want
VariaTEA – yes! And now I REALLY REALLY have to try Japon even more, haha.
CHAroma – have you had it with milk? Was it good?
Siller – add it to the swaplist, then. Type type! Swift pawfeets!
swap list! oh noes..my hairs, they were slacking…
I am always happy to share some Japon :)
Sil – Siller Slackerhairs.
VariaTEA – Aww, that’s so sweet of you. Well, it certainly doesn’t seem like I’ll be getting it any other way (SIDE-EYE LAURENT) so let’s consider a swap, maybe? =)
Haha I think we decided like a month ago to swap and nothing ever came of it :P. This time, we must be proactive
Oh, the SWAMP that is my inbox. I really must try to go through it some day, but all those nice messages! I love them! Nooooo.
Do you remember what we talked about swapping then?
The last time I tried this tea was back in 2010 before I found Steepster. I believe I drank it straight with no additions.
Oh, it’s definitely time to get some more and see if your palate changed! Always scary, but interesting.
I have no idea. I just remember we decided in the comments of another tasting note and then nothing ever happened. Haha. C’est la vie.
Haha, yeah – but let’s make it happen. I’ll come find you after my deadlines.