Caramel Vanilla Assam

Last of my free samples from my Butiki order.

The dry tea smells like creamy caramel – like if you have a caramel sundae and it melted.

The brewed tea smells strongly of burnt/dark caramel with hints of vanilla. The tea initially tastes strongly of burnt/dark caramel with very light notes of vanilla. As it cools the vanilla becomes stronger and the caramel more creamy. The flavours of the Assam also come out more as the tea cools. It also becomes sweeter while it cools, but still carries the flavours of burnt caramel.

Delicious blend, this is not something I would normally pick up for myself but super happy to have tried it as a free sample. May have to stock up in the future.

Of course the one morning that I prepare a bunch of cold brew teas, it’s cold and rainy out! Of course.

Anyways, I cold brewed this up last night for my AM drive to work. Even though today was perhaps better suited for a hot cup, I still enjoyed it. Cold brewing seemed to wake up the caramel flavor quite nicely, as I noticed it a bit more than usual. As always, the assam base in this is smooth, rich, and lovely. Tiny bit of astringency, but I did leave the leaves in for 11 hours. Think it would have been perfect around 8-9 hours, but it was still awesome, so I’m not complaining!

This is awfully good.

I have had it twice now, since my Butiki order came in last week. It’s amazing how subtle, but still delicious, the caramel vanilla flavor is. I am just finishing up my first cup this afternoon, and I am already looking forward to another. It resteeps quite well, and it’s too good not to. Yum.

So I bought more of this tea even though I wasn’t sure about it before. I primarily wanted to have it so that my parents could sample some because I think they might like it. As for myself, this seems like it will turn into one of those teas that grow more impressive in my memory the longer I’ve been away from it. Even now I’m thinking that I liked it more than I remember thinking that I liked it at the time I had it earlier this evening while watching Merlin. The only reason I brewed it this evening is because I remember liking it more than my previous tasting note would indicate (silly me, this is the whole point if keeping tasting notes!).

I am happily sipping on a resteep of this. My belly is full of cheesecake. I have a day off. My problems seem miles away. Life is good.

See my previous notes about this one to get any substantial observations ;D

This time, I left it to Stacy to pick the samples to send with my order and am so glad she sent this one. I actually have never been that big on caramel, but surprisingly, I’ve found that I usually enjoy it in teas a lot. On the other hand, I really like vanilla, but have been somewhat disappointed with vanilla teas. My first impression of this tea is that it is very well blended, as I’ve come to expect with Butiki teas. The vanilla, caramel, and Assam play off each other nicely. I will definitely order it in the future. (Can’t get the rating thing to work-will try later)

Backlog:

This is a wonderful tea. I love the way the caramel and vanilla meld together … just as the description says … they become part of the tea … accentuating the finer qualities of this Assam.

Sweet, delicious and rich … definitely one of my favorite flavored Assam teas. Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/06/11/caramel-vanilla-assam-tea-from-butiki-teas/

Mmmmm. . . I love this. There’s nothing I would change.
I saw my other half off yesterday and at the same time my boss is going on vacation. So not only has my time at worked increased, my work at home has as well. Today is my day off, the only one I get this week, and it was scheduled to it’s breaking point. And all at once, this morning, everything fell through. So, I will take it. This cup is the perfect way to start the day that only has grocery shopping on the agenda.

After returning from Costa Rica, I was in a bit of a rut. It was so beautiful, but also the first time that I really got to know some locals and find out about their lives. It gave me so much appreciation for my life and all the basic things I take for granted, like running water. It was an amazing trip but I am so glad to be home. Sure the weather is often cold or rainy here, but tea is the perfect antidote ;)

This is what I was most excited about trying when I got back. And considering I’ve already gone through half the bag (while exercising restraint) I’d say it’s a hit. It starts off just like Premium Taiwanese Assam but then there’s a caramelly-vanilla hug at the end (I was gonna say kick but no, it’s more of a loving squeeze). In true Butiki form, it leaves me wondering how something so seemingly desserty could taste so natural. Oh yes, this is joining the ranks of cupboard staples!

2 tsp in 8 oz

Loving this tea first thing this morning. I smell and taste the caramel and vanilla, but not overpoweringly so. It’s subtle, smooth, and delicious!

Since it’s my first cup of the morning, I added a 1/2 tsp of sugar.