I don't generally like coffee flavored anything. I am not a big coffee drinker in general. This is why my high praise of Tia Maria really a huge accolade!
So there is a crazy story that the brand would love you to believe that involves a Jamaican uprising in the 1800's, a rich noblewoman, and a loyal maidservant who managed to spirit out an old family secret recipe for a unique coffee liqueur. We all know that a story is very important in selling; however, what we really need to know is how it tastes and what goes in it!
Tia Maria is a coffee liqueur made with the base of a sugarcane spirit. Jamaican coffee, roasted coffee beans, vanilla, and sugarcane also go into the mix. Kahlua seems to me to be a little more mainstream. The difference is that Kahlua is made from Mexican coffee instead of Jamaican and the neutral spirit base is different. Although I can't seem to get onto their website, I'm guessing that it's a wheat or corn based neutral spirit as opposed to the sugarcane spirit base of Tia Maria. The sugarcane gives a lightness to the liqueur. Although Tia Maria is sweet, it's not cloying. 
The color is cola brown. It has a beautiful vanilla mocha aroma. The palate has a rich coffee flavor along with a hint of chocolate. It's really delicious!!! Maybe you think of Tia Maria as a throwback to the 1950's and 1960's. Maybe you remember Iman's commercials from the 80's hawking it as a 'dark spirit'. Perhaps you have a bottle of Kahlua instead. I strongly recommend that you give ole' Auntie Maria a chance to be a sweet end to your meal! or a starring role in a cocktail! yum!
color: cola brown
nose: roasted coffee bean, cocoa powder, Mexican vanilla
palate: smooth coffee, not overly sweet, vanilla fudge
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