Overview
Never believe someone who tells you that salted caramel is overrated. They probably just haven't tried the right one. And if any version of the sweet-but-salty treat is going to convert the salted caramel agnostic, it's Pepe Saya's — because Australia's famous cultured butter maker has branched out into desserts.
Pepe Saya already does pancake packs, brown butter chocolate-chip cookie dough, scone packs and more, of course, but now it has added buttery salted caramel bon bons to its range. The added bonus with these: you can can pop them in your pocket or bag, then get snacking whenever the urge strikes.
If you're wondering why Pepe Saya decided to move into caramels — and yes, the easy answer is 'why not? — it's calling its version an Australian homage to the caramel au beurre salé. It has company, too, with the mouth-watering squares made by hand by Adora Handmade Chocolates in Marrickville, and not only using Pepe Saya's cultured butter but also Olsson's sea salt.
Even better: the bon bons come in two varieties. Stick with the OG buttery salted caramel version and you'll obviously taste all the requisite flavours (that'd be butter, salt and caramel), or opt for the chocolate buttery salted caramels for something even more decadent.
That said, if your tastebuds are now well and truly tempted, you'll want to get in quickly. While the caramels have been added to Pepe Saya's lineup on an ongoing basis, they're being made in limited-edition batches — and only 250 boxes are available each week. You can nab them online from Pepe Saya's website and Olsson's website, with ten in a box. The original version costs $19.95, while the chocolate variety costs $24.95.
Announcing the bon bons, Pepe Saya co-founder and buttermaker Pierre Issa said that "any butter or salt company worth their weight should have a salted caramel. Caramelising our butter brings out the true flavour of cultured butter, perfectly rounded with sea salt. It quite literally melts in your mouth with more and more flavour appearing as it dissolves."
"I've always dreamt of being able to carry a little taste of Pepe Saya butter around in my pocket to share with people, and now I can, with a pocket full of these bon bons," Issa continued.
The caramels also come in quite the eye-catching packaging, as designed by Aussie artist Michael Whooley. Inspired by the butteries that Issa and fellow co-founder Melissa Altman have been to overseas, it features a cat to pay tribute to felines who call butteries home around the globe.
Pepe Saya's new range of caramels are available online from Pepe Saya's website and Olsson's website, with ten in a box. The original version costs $19.95, while the chocolate variety costs $24.95
Images: Rob Locke.