VariaTEA Send Message

345 Followers / 115 Following

VariaTEA drank Oolong Caramel au Beurre Salé by Dammann Frères

6444 tasting notes

Sipdown (280)

I guess despite my tournament being over, I still want to have tea battles. Plus, today is National Fragrance Day as highlighted by Mastress Alita in her sipdown discussion. I noticed Kittenna picked out DAVIDsTEA’s Salted Caramel Oolong for the occasion and that got me thinking about that tea and this one and how I had one serving left of the sample given to me by Roswell Strange and how I wanted to use it to compare the two. So here we are…

The tea has cooled a bit – I always forget how quickly an 8 oz cup of tea can cool down. It is still so lovely though. At first I thought it was mostly just oolong that I was getting but the caramel is lingering. It coats the tongue really while the slight roast and vegetable flavor of the oolong dances on top. The flavors are so different but intertwining well together. It also manages to stay light overall while being rich in flavor. That stands out as one of the main differences between this and the DAVIDsTEA version, which is more heavier/syrupy – the European vs. North American takes on the flavor profile really stand out here. Check out the tasting note for that tea here: https://steepster.com/rachel12610/posts/416697

Thank you Roswell Strange for the share and the chance to revisit this gem! I think as a plain tea, I prefer this to the DAVIDsTEA version. DAVIDsTEA one makes for a better latte though.

I Like This

14 likes

2 comments

tea-sipper
Delete

Yeah, I might just make the tea tournament an every March thing. :D

VariaTEA
Delete

I would definitely do another one!

People who liked this

Comments

tea-sipper
Delete

Yeah, I might just make the tea tournament an every March thing. :D

VariaTEA
Delete

I would definitely do another one!

Profile

Bio

My cupboard has grown exponentially since joining this site and I have a lot to share. Feel free to snoop through my cupboard and message me if anything interests you – I am always happy to swap!

For me, flavored teas are definitely my sweet spot. I will most often reach for black teas and rooibos or honeybush blends but I do keep some flavored whites and greens around for when the mood strikes. I have a few herbals/tisanes but most of the time I find myself disappointed by them as they often smell deliciously sweet and then end up tasting tart/sour. I have a little bit of an aversion to pu’erh and oolong teas. I am also wary of florals, earl greys, and chai teas. I do not like overpowering citrus flavors nor do I usually like hibiscus, licorice or chamomile. I love dessert teas – caramel, vanilla, toffee, cookie, cream, and other sweet flavors make me smile. Fruits like strawberry, peach, mango, and pineapples will often catch my attention as well.

I have also realized that although I really enjoy adding frothed milk to some of my teas, if I do not like the tea with zero additives (just in plain water without milk or sugar), I probably won’t drink it. The one exception is flavored matchas which I will happily drink in cold milk if I do not like it mixed with hot water. My theory is if the tea can’t stand on its own then it is not for me and I will more than likely try to swap it out for something else.

Tea Ratings Guide (as of December 10, 2017)
90-100 Teas I NEED on hand at all times
80-89 Teas I want to keep around for a cup every now and then
70-79 Teas I am glad I have around and can experiment with but probably don’t need more than what’s in my cupboard
60-69 Teas I would not turn down a cup of from a friend but that would probably be enough
50-59 Teas I can see why someone would enjoy but are not for me
Under 50 Teas I really did not like and most likely got dumped

Location

Waterdown, Ontario

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer