I drank this one just before bed yesterday evening. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a stupid thing to do, but I was so tired anyway that the extra caffeine didn’t keep me awake. I think I’m pretty immune anyway, but still. I used 2 tsp of leaf for my cup, and was reminded all over again how difficult it is to measure PTA. The leaves are so HUGE! My measuring spoon was never really in the game, so I just kind of guessed. It worked out fine, thankfully. I left it for four minutes, returned to a kitchen that smelled like melted Terry’s Chocolate Orange, and added a splash of milk just because.
To taste, it’s simply gorgeous. The way this week’s shaping up, I needed a treat and this turned out to be exactly the thing. The orange flavour is the strongest, and while there are the juicy, slightly sharp edges I’d expect from an orange, the overall effect is pretty candy-like. I think the chocolate helps with this, because it adds a smooth, creamy sweetness to the whole thing so that it’s basically like drinking a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. One word: yum!
I’ve tried Three Friends in the past, with the alternate base and additional marshmallow, but I think in all honesty I prefer this version. It seems a little more straightforward (there’s less going on, I guess, so that’s an obvious thing to say), and the chocolate/orange pairing really gets a chance to shine. PTA is delicious whichever way you look at it, so I’ve no complaints there either.
I love this one, and I’ll be sad when it’s finally gone from my cupboard. I know this Butiki sipdown thing is for the best, but it feels pretty grim all the same.
Wah.
Gah, you make me miss this one.