FANCY SOMETHING RICH, CLASSY & HOT! (Other Coffees)

Member Name: junkboxjules

Product:	Other Coffees
Date:	22/09/02 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely rich aroma , Smooth taste, Tastes like ground coffee but is an instant

Disadvantages: None unless you don't like coffee

I first tried Carte Noire when I visited the Ideal Home Exhibition earlier this year. They had a promotional stand and were offering small cups of coffee to sample there and then as well as handing out money off coupons and small sample packets to take home.

As I had enjoyed the taste of the samples I decided to put the money off coupons to good use and when I next needed to purchase coffee I chose Carte Noire instead of my usual brand, Nescafe Original.

I have done a bit of research on Carte Noire coffee and have detailed below a brief history about the range.

In 1978 Frenchman René Mannier created the 'Carte' range of coffees consisting of Carte Bleue, Carte Rouge and Carte Noire. However, Carte Noire wasn't launched in the UK until 1996.

Carte Noire is made using only Arabica beans, the name Arabica comes from Arabia and this is where coffee was first commercially cultivated in the 15th Century. Arabica beans provide a richer, tastier and more aromatic coffee than other beans.

History lesson over now onto the product.

Carte Noire can be easily identified by its' distinctive packaging. It has a square black plastic lid and is handsomely packaged in a clear square shaped glass jar which has been encased in a classy looking black cellophane wrapper with a gold trimming, the words Carte Noire are prominently emblazoned on both the front and back.

The name Carte Noire suggests that this is a French coffee, however, although the carte range was created in France and the label advises that Carte Noire is enjoyed in France for its unique aroma and flavour, I found it quite amusing to note that it is actually made in Germany and imported by The Kenco Coffee Company.

Carte Noire is a available as a freeze dried instant coffee, which is the variety that I have based this opinion on, however, if you prefer it is also available as a decaffeinated instant coffee and as a fresh roast an
d ground coffee.

The freeze dried instant coffee is made up by measuring a teaspoon full of coffee into a mug or cup and adding boiling water and if you like milk and or sugar.

The first thing you will notice when you have added the boiling water to the coffee granules is the deep aroma, the aroma resembles the smell of freshly ground coffee and is very inviting.

The coffee has a rich and velvety taste which is not dissimilar to the taste of freshly ground coffee - this is a big bonus if you like ground coffee as you can achieve the taste without having to mess about with filters or a cafetière. I don't like my coffee strong and find that a level teaspoon of this coffee adequately provides me with my daily caffeine fix.

I purchased a 100g jar of Carte Noire from Asda and paid approximately £2.42, this is more than I pay for Nescafe Original but this coffee is a completely different class than Nescafe. Having tried Carte Noire I wouldn't go back to Nescafe Original.

If you like a good quality, premium tasting coffee I would highly recommend that you try Carte Noire. I took a jar into work and both colleagues and clients have enjoyed the taste and I have only received positive feedback.

For more information you can call Carte Noire on their free phone number which is 0808 1000 131, (UK only), or e-mail them on talk2CarteNoire@Krafteurope.com.


Thank you for reading.

Julie

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