Gotcha Fresh Tea arrived in Sydney in mid-2019, but visiting a few weeks after opening we were disappointed they were sold out of one of the top drawcards: their Bamboo Charcoal Milk Tea and their collagen topping. Instead, we settled for this Gotcha Paris 1883 Milk Tea ($7.20) (fixed sweetness, fixed ice).

The drink was a caramel black milk tea with grass jelly, egg pudding, pearls and Oreo. The black tea notes came through fragrant with each sip but are dominated equally by a sweet caramel flavour. Once stirred, the Oreo crumbs lend a viscosity to the smooth mouthfeel along with an Oreo cookie flavour that was slightly odd. Overall, the richness of the caramel milk tea, along with the cookie crumbs, pearls and smooth egg pudding created a far too busy experience that overstimulated the tastebuds and left only the barely sweetened grass jelly as much needed and very welcome relief from the rich sweetness. We would not return for this drink, but would be interested in trying something simpler.

This Paris 1883 Milk Tea was ordered at Gotcha Fresh Tea in Sydney, Australia in June 2019.