Kenco Mocha

This works for me. Not too sweet and creamy, and with a solid chocolate flavour giving it some bite and bitterness. Nicely balanced and quite satisfying. It's not a proper coffee, and there's little actual coffee flavour, but as an instant milky drink this works well.

Score: 6

Creamy instant coffees

Camp Coffee

Camp Coffee is a British icon. It has been continually made since 1876, originally for the troops in India, then for anyone who wanted an easy coffee substitute. It is the world's first instant coffee. There is very little coffee in it (just 4% instant coffee essence), the bulk of it is chicory (a popular coffee substitute) and sugar. The image on the label is very compelling. It is generally accepted (though has never been confirmed) that the Highland soldier is "Fighting Mac" - Major General Sir Hector Archibald MacDonald, a common soldier who through his courage, leadership, and military skills rose through the ranks to become a general.  His death by suicide after being accused of homosexuality still attracts discussion.

 The coffee has been advertised with evocative images of the British Empire in its days of racist domination and military brutality. There is a glamour about such images that sit uncomfortably with us in more liberal and enlightened times.

The label has changed. The label I remember is the Gordon Highlander sitting down in a military camp being served by an Indian servant.

Original image

But over time the image has altered, so that today the Sikh is a fellow solder sitting with the Highlander as they drink the coffee together.

The changing face of Camp Coffee

So what's it like to drink? Actually quite pleasant. It's not coffee, but does have a coffee flavour. It's a bit weak, so best to put in more coffee than than suggested. And it is better with water than milk, but it's each to their own really.


Score: 5

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Double Mint & Lemon Verbena Infusion

It's drinkable. There's a green mint flavour, and it's acceptable. But it's not as good as a straightforward mint tea.


Date: June 2018    Score: 4

***

Mint tea

Sainsbury's own label tea and coffee

Twinings Buttermint

Yes, very soothing. Mostly a peppermint taste, gentle zing, with the very soft, delicate sweetness of vanilla. There is a vague awareness of toffee.  Very decent little brew.

Date: Sept 2019    Score: 7.5

This works for me. Pleasantly sweet and minty with notes of caramel toffee and vanilla. Refreshing and satisfying.

Date: June 2018   Score: 7

***

Twinings

Kenco Latte (Barista Edition)

This is as nice as the Kenco Flat White I had yesterday. I can't really decide between them. The Flat White might just edge it, but by Jiminy it's close.


Score: 6

Creamy instant coffees

Kenco Flat White (Barista Edition)

The milky flat white  (which has less milk than a latte, and less froth than a cappuccino, though is very similar to both) is very trendy at the moment, and I think Kenco are the first of the creamy instant coffee producers to get one on the market.

This has slightly more coffee taste than other milky coffee drinks, and is also less sweet. I actually like it. There's isn't much coffee flavour (and I wish Kenco would do what Nescafe  do in their Gold series, and add a bit of ground coffee, as that really lifts these creamy instants).

I like this. This is the nearest yet to a serious coffee. Yes, it's milky and I'm not one for milk in my coffee (unless it's nasty), but for a milky coffee it's not bad. I doubt if it's possible to make a decent instant black coffee, but for a milky coffee this is the best I've had so far. As I'm currently staying away from coffee, this could well be a reasonable alternative now and again to tea.


Score: 6

Creamy instant coffees

Nescafe Gold White Choc & Pistachio Mocha

Sounds promising, but tastes of warm watery powdered milk. Very little coffee taste gets through. And white chocolate is not a good choice for such a milky drink, as it doesn't stand out. And where the pistachio is, I have no idea!

Score: 2

I normally like the Nescafe Gold creamy instant coffees - they are light, fun, sweet and creamy. But this one is too cloying. It needs a bit of coffee flavour in there to cut through. Dark chocolate would at least have the bitter edge it needs, but white chocolate is just not right.

Score: 2

***

Creamy instant coffees