Heaven in a mug (Carte Noire Instant)

Member Name: bluerose81

Product:	Carte Noire Instant
Date:	23/09/09 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Strong and very smooth at the same time - perfect combination

Disadvantages: Bit pricier than most

Carte Noire is France's most popular coffee, known for its fragrant aroma and delicious taste. It is not widely available around the world yet but in recent years it has gained popularity in the United Kingdom. As it is such a treat for the senses, it is marketed as a sexy coffee, with an appropriately sexy black jar. It is made using the Arabica species of coffee beans which is considered to be the finest, most fragrant kind. It is supposed to be about as gourmet as an instant coffee can get.

Carte Noire currently retails at £2.93 for 100g or £5.48 for 200g from Tesco and can be found at all major supermarkets and convenience stores. I also recently spotted the 100g jars in my local B & M shop selling for more than a pound less than Tesco, but they don't always have it in stock. Grab them while you can.

A lot of people like the scent of coffee, but this is extra special. The aroma does hit you as soon as you have put the water in the cup, and it is not just a nice coffee smell, it has its own unique perfume to it which is heavenly. The taste is fairly strong but very smooth with it, so there is no harshness/bitterness at all. It tastes as good as it smells.

If I could afford it, I would only ever buy Carte Noire coffee, but as I am a rampant coffee-drinker I tend to get a cheaper brand, but I get this now and then for a treat as I cannot resist. When visitors come to my house, they often ask for a cup of tea and as I don't buy tea they end up with a cup of Carte Noire instead. They always comment on what nice coffee it is. It is a better tasting coffee than most of the filter coffees I have tried as they are often too bitter. This really is the best instant coffee out there and is worth paying a little extra for!

Summary: Highly recommended, gourmet coffee