An Intriguing Experience (Tia Maria)

Member Name: vinodgm

Product:	Tia Maria
Date:	02/02/02 (257 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Intriguing, Smooth & Unique, Great after dinner drink

Disadvantages: Expensive, Difficult to consume over a long period of time, As with all alcholic drinks must be drunk in moderation

Tia Maria has to be one of the most intriguing drinks that I have ever tasted.

The combination of coffee, vanilla, sugar and spirits has been perfected to create a unique liqueur that is smooth and rich in flavour.

A bit of history is necessary in order to give you the true essence of the drink and its origins.

The origins of this drink can be traced back to Jamaica over 300 years ago. In the 17th century whilst Jamaica was in the midst of a Colonial War a Spanish woman was forced to evacuate from the island. Her maid managed to hastily take one of her mistress’s most important possessions, which was a treasure box that contained amongst other things a secret family recipe for a drink. The maid’s name was Tia Maria and in order to show her gratitude the mistress named this drink after her.

The drink came into prominence in the 1940’s when a Dr Kenneth Leigh Evans was given this drink at dinner. He instantly fell in love with the drink and persuaded the family that it should be produced commercially. The lady of the house agreed provided that the recipe remained closely guarded secret.

NB. The above information was obtained from the Tia Maria webpage at: www.tiamaria.co.uk

Tia Maria is presented in an exquisite shaped almost black bottle with a very attractive and stylish label. The bottle size is 70cl and a bottle retails for between £16.00 to £18.00. This is quite expensive compared to other liqueurs such as Baileys but I for one think that it is certainly worth every penny.

The drink is a versatile one and can be had straight on the rocks or as the main basis for splendid cocktails such as After Dark, Black Russian, White Magic, Supernatural, Alchemy, Hocus Pocus and several others.

Personally speaking I have only tried it straight over ice and the first thing that I felt was a smoothness that is very much unlike any other drink. The vanilla essence is also prevailant aswel
l as the lingering coffee taste.

This is a drink ideal for after dinner and to be had in a quite and comfortable atmosphere.

My wife especially loves this drink and its now available at all times at home. One of the plus points with this in comparison to Baileys is that it last longer after the bottle has been opened. We opened a bottle sometime ago and had it again after about a month and it was just perfect.

Overall I find this a wonderful drink to drink occasionally and when you’re in the right frame of mind and mood. There is absolutely nothing like it around.

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