My A&D DFT Series 2 arrived yesterday. It shipped on Thursday so I wasn’t expecting it until early next week. I got it from the mailbox too late in the day to try any yesterday.
After a delicious lunch of chicken enchiladas, I decided to go on the caramel quest with Jackee Muntz. The dry leaves were small – four to eight millimeters long and thin, mostly straight with some curves, and deep cocoa brown with some reddish and tan accents. They smelled smokey, like antique library books starting to burn. The wet leaves looked like broken pencil shavings in shape and were a rich brown and a dark sierra brown. They smelled smokey but more tarry, almost putting-down-asphalt like, but without the toxin edge to the smell.
The cup of tea was a rich brown with a touch of red to it and smelled smokey and burnt, yet sweet. The sweet part smelled like a dessert-type food that I haven’t identified yet. It reminded me of the fair. At first, I thought hot burnt caramel corn or kettle corn. But that isn’t it. I’ll keep sniffing subsequent cups and see if I figure it out.
And now for news of the caramel quest. I’d like to thank everyone who paved the way for me with their tealogs because I found caramel. The first sips were smokey and ashy with some sweet. As the tea cooled, I could taste the burnt sugar taste along with the smokiness. By about half a cup left, it was smokey and light caramel and just warm. The last few sips were caramel with a bit of smokiness and cooler. I also noticed it had a thicker mouth feel as it cooled.
I noticed the taste of this tea change a lot with the temperature of it. I’ve noticed that before but never so prominently. Maybe it was only because I was paying such close attention looking for the caramel. I have to admit I wasn’t expecting to be able to find the caramel in the tea, especially after smelling the dry leaves.
I think I was planning to write something more but I seem to have had a brain blank thinking about this tea. Since I’m planning to do a 2nd steep shortly and drink this tea again quite soon, I’ll end this tealog instead of leaving it up until I remember more of what I wanted to say.
Also, while I was typing this the thought occurred to me – I haven’t seen anything from takgoti in a few days. Where is takgoti? Has she been around, or told us of her absence, and it slipped my mind? (I just thought through my other favorite regular posters and they’re all accounted for.)
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I was actually wondering that too. She hasn’t posted in a while, and I don’t think she mentioned anything about going away. I hope things are okay.
Good job finding the caramel! I’m still hunting for it… :(
Shanti, is this still a good tea even without the caramel?
SUCCESS! Awesome you found caramel – I’ve been reading about the trials & tribulations of this tea that even though I haven’t (yet) tasted this one, I’m rooting for those who do!
Erin ~ It wasn’t just me not noticing her then.
takgoti, where are you? Anyone know where takgoti is? Should we be worried?
Shanti ~ I hope you find the caramel. Try drinking the tea more slowly perhaps. Mine was lukewarm and cooling by the time I finished it.
Lauren ~ I didn’t expect to find it so easily. Or so clearly. I am hoping I don’t have trouble replicating it.
Probably midterms for Takgoti.
Oh yeah, it could be about that time. Thanks Ricky.
Yay caramel! Hehe!
And no worries about takgoti – she’s on spring break right now and traveling a bit but she’s safe and sound!
I liked your description very much, with your notes about smokiness/burnt/sweet tastes. But you stopped me in my tracks when I read “…antique library books starting to burn.” I can absolutely understand the smell of antique library books, but when did you smell them burning? :-) And for heaven’s sake, please tell me what they are so I can pay for shipping to me.
I imagine you had occasion to help or attend one of those library-cleaning days, where no-one has checked them out for the last 25 years, so they toss them. I just don’t know where they burn them.
Erin—I actually don’t like it that much :x it’s smokey and piney, but I don’t really like that kind of tea. I like Thomas Sampson more, but even TS doesn’t seem that “special” to me…just a good straightforward black tea.
My son and another employee once sieved through and removed all of the little caramel bits from a caramel flavoured black tea and ate them, They didn’t have to go looking for the caramel taste, they had it all. I wasn’t impressed when I noticed the tea on the shelf had no little bits.
Auggy ~ Thanks for letting us know about takgoti. I’m sure she told us and I forgot.
JustDucky ~ I love books, both reading and physical books. I love the way they smell, which is why, for me, a paper-y or old book smell is a good thing. I’ve never smelt books burning, but I’ve smelt antique books and I’ve smelt paper burning. So it smells the way I think old paper would burning. My local library system has several huge book sales each year to deal with the old or surplus books.
Shanti ~ Thomas Sampson is coming tomorrow.
Robert ~ You commented while I was typing my last comment. I can just see a little boy doing that. lol
Congrats on finding the caramel. I have heard so much about it, I just ordered my series 2 last night, I can’t wait for it to get here. Hopefully I find the caramel as easy as you did.
And yeah, I was wondering the same thing, I haven’t seen her lately either and was curious about it since she usually posts frequently.
Thanks Auggy for clearing that up.
Garrett ~ I studied up on Jackee to get the caramel. I followed their directions real good. =) My Series 2 came really quickly. Can’t wait to read your tealogs on yours.
Aww! I feel incredibly loved right now. Anyhow, I’m still trying to nail down the caramel ratios. I’m glad you managed to find some of it. I swear, y’all, when it’s strong, it’s like…WHOAMYGODCARAMEL.
Me too. I thought I’d spend mugs looking for it. And yay, you’re back. How was spring break? Did you get your party on?
It was pretty awesome! I did get my party on…ish. Not really. My idea of partying nowadays is mimosas on the couch with a book in the afternoon with the door open and music playing in the background. Mmm…
I know it was awhile ago that Erin asked this, but I do really like Jackee even without the caramel. He’s still sweet, and smooth, and smoky, but definitely Keemun-smoky not Lapsang-smoky. The caramel, when it happens, is an unexpected bonus that sometimes shows up as he cools.
I love your review. Jackee is a main man of mine and he’s comfortable in the sweaty atmosphere of the gym and also in the refined Library of an English country castle—a ducal seat, perhaps.
I was actually wondering that too. She hasn’t posted in a while, and I don’t think she mentioned anything about going away. I hope things are okay.
Good job finding the caramel! I’m still hunting for it… :(
Shanti, is this still a good tea even without the caramel?
SUCCESS! Awesome you found caramel – I’ve been reading about the trials & tribulations of this tea that even though I haven’t (yet) tasted this one, I’m rooting for those who do!
Erin ~ It wasn’t just me not noticing her then.
takgoti, where are you? Anyone know where takgoti is? Should we be worried?
Shanti ~ I hope you find the caramel. Try drinking the tea more slowly perhaps. Mine was lukewarm and cooling by the time I finished it.
Lauren ~ I didn’t expect to find it so easily. Or so clearly. I am hoping I don’t have trouble replicating it.
Probably midterms for Takgoti.
Oh yeah, it could be about that time. Thanks Ricky.
Yay caramel! Hehe!
And no worries about takgoti – she’s on spring break right now and traveling a bit but she’s safe and sound!
I liked your description very much, with your notes about smokiness/burnt/sweet tastes. But you stopped me in my tracks when I read “…antique library books starting to burn.” I can absolutely understand the smell of antique library books, but when did you smell them burning? :-) And for heaven’s sake, please tell me what they are so I can pay for shipping to me.
I imagine you had occasion to help or attend one of those library-cleaning days, where no-one has checked them out for the last 25 years, so they toss them. I just don’t know where they burn them.
Erin—I actually don’t like it that much :x it’s smokey and piney, but I don’t really like that kind of tea. I like Thomas Sampson more, but even TS doesn’t seem that “special” to me…just a good straightforward black tea.
My son and another employee once sieved through and removed all of the little caramel bits from a caramel flavoured black tea and ate them, They didn’t have to go looking for the caramel taste, they had it all. I wasn’t impressed when I noticed the tea on the shelf had no little bits.
Auggy ~ Thanks for letting us know about takgoti. I’m sure she told us and I forgot.
JustDucky ~ I love books, both reading and physical books. I love the way they smell, which is why, for me, a paper-y or old book smell is a good thing. I’ve never smelt books burning, but I’ve smelt antique books and I’ve smelt paper burning. So it smells the way I think old paper would burning. My local library system has several huge book sales each year to deal with the old or surplus books.
Shanti ~ Thomas Sampson is coming tomorrow.
Robert ~ You commented while I was typing my last comment. I can just see a little boy doing that. lol
Congrats on finding the caramel. I have heard so much about it, I just ordered my series 2 last night, I can’t wait for it to get here. Hopefully I find the caramel as easy as you did.
And yeah, I was wondering the same thing, I haven’t seen her lately either and was curious about it since she usually posts frequently.
Thanks Auggy for clearing that up.
Garrett ~ I studied up on Jackee to get the caramel. I followed their directions real good. =) My Series 2 came really quickly. Can’t wait to read your tealogs on yours.
Aww! I feel incredibly loved right now. Anyhow, I’m still trying to nail down the caramel ratios. I’m glad you managed to find some of it. I swear, y’all, when it’s strong, it’s like…WHOAMYGODCARAMEL.
Me too. I thought I’d spend mugs looking for it. And yay, you’re back. How was spring break? Did you get your party on?
It was pretty awesome! I did get my party on…ish. Not really. My idea of partying nowadays is mimosas on the couch with a book in the afternoon with the door open and music playing in the background. Mmm…
I know it was awhile ago that Erin asked this, but I do really like Jackee even without the caramel. He’s still sweet, and smooth, and smoky, but definitely Keemun-smoky not Lapsang-smoky. The caramel, when it happens, is an unexpected bonus that sometimes shows up as he cools.
I love your review. Jackee is a main man of mine and he’s comfortable in the sweaty atmosphere of the gym and also in the refined Library of an English country castle—a ducal seat, perhaps.