Vanilla Caramel

This one is super delicious if you add sugar to it and put some milk in it, Its even better with sweetened condensed milk. if sweetened and milked just right it can taste like one of those pricey supper yummy thing you get from a starfucks or something, super indulgent.
Its probably made to add sugar and milk to because honest on its own it isn’t that great at all…without additives it is weak and nasty, these teas are made to be sweetened and enjoyed.

I save this one for cold mornings and watching mafia movies at night. It’s richly full-bodied and delicately sweet all the same. Seriously one of my favorite teas, although I docked it down 5 points because without milk and sugar I personally find it a tad bitter and acidic tasting. Amazing for dipping tea snacks in like stroopwaffles or cookies!

So this one is something that I normally wouldn’t drink really but it was a gift from a coworker at DAVIDsTEA who had tried it at a hotel on vacation and really like it, so she brought a whole bunch home with her for the staff to try.

And on the note of it being something I wouldn’t normally drink…

So my coworker, Leah, was aware of the fact I don’t generally drink bagged tea anymore and she was actually super nervous about sharing a bagged tea with me. It just made me feel really reflective/introspective and put some things in a bit of a new light for me. I don’t even want to be the kind of tea drinker or perceived as the kind of tea drinker that is “too good for something”. That kind of superiority is exactly why people are intimidated by loose leaf tea, and sometimes even the tea community as a whole. I know that my personal experience has always been a positive one, but I understand why people are sometimes scared to take those baby steps into some of the more ‘hardcore’ facets of tea.

The fact of the matter is, you can be surprised by any tea and taste is totally subjective! So, while I fall into this trap myself a lot, a bagged tea can be as good or better as a loose leaf one and it’s worth the occasional “step backwards” to give one a try. And bottom line, friend/coworker took the time to share something with me because it made them think of me, and I am appreciative of that. I don’t ever want someone to be scared to share a tea with me because I’m “too good for it”.

And you know what? When I drank this one on the bus ride to work today it was damn good. Very creamy and rich, with soft vanilla notes and delectable caramel goodness. I was reeled in from my first sip, and you damn well bet I got every last drop out of that travel mug.

So thank you, Leah!

Mourning the death of Robin Williams, big time. The man had so many demons. I hope he’s with the angels now.

I missed my Vanilla Caramel Lipton tea when I finished it. It’s a comforting, sweet flavor. I figured I’d give this one a try too. And hope that it makes me a little less sad.

I taste burnt cocoa, popcorn, sweet vanilla, and a hint of caramel. This brand’s Vanilla Caramel is much more dynamic and less dessert-y than Lipton’s. I like it!

The first time I tried this, I did not like it at all. It tasted overly sweet, chemical-y and went immediately out of my usual rotation. However, after finishing my first box of Trader Joe’s Vanilla and Cinnamon, and unable to buy another at the time, I gave this one another shot, and I’m very glad I did.

It’s a nice alternative to my usual morning tea, with stronger dark notes, and a nice burnt caramel overtone.

I did not care for this as it reminded me of cookies in a bad way :/
I just don’t know what to do with the rest of the box

I was afraid to taste this tea because when I went to pour boiling water over the bag I was assaulted with the scent of artificial sweetness.

“The truth must prevail!” I told myself and did my best to ignore the smell and take a sip. And then another to be sure I was judging the taste and not just burning my tongue.

It pretty much tastes like…..black tea with artificial sweeteners .-. I don’t know if it’s because of the diabetes, but the fake sweetness dominates and just ruins the tea for me.

Sadness :< I really wanted to like this one.

There are two things that experimentation has taught me about this tea:
1) it is best served with milk (perhaps some sort of sweetener, but definitely milk) as directed.
2) it is also best served in as big a mug as possible.

I’m not sure why this is, especially the second one. But… it just seems the most fitting to drink this mug out of a large mug. The size and feel just… fit the taste.

The taste itself is rich, just a little sweet, and with a strong caramel flavour that hits right as you sip. The milk adds a creaminess to it, which makes the mouth feel match the flavour quite well. Are there ways that this blend could be improved? Probably. But it’s a nice, robust, strong-flavoured tea and I love it.

A spoonful of sweetened condensed milk makes this tea way better :) I love the creamy mellowness, and I appreciate that it isn’t extremely “tea” flavored.

This is my favorite tea hands down. I add a little bit of milk and some sweetener to it and I think it really brings out the flavor.