Lapsang Souchong

Looooove! such love for this tea.
It’s not harsh or biting at all, like so many other versions I’ve tried. The smokiness in a Lapsang tends to give it a scratchy sensation but not here, thankfully!
I added a bit of agave(maybe 1/2 tspn) this time around and it’s really picked up on the sweet note. I’m getting alot more marshmallow now.
Too bad I have a headache blooming. Maybe time for a chammy after this!

Thank you Indigobloom for this sample!

I’ve been a bit unwell (I’ll get to that at the finish) so I decided to SMOKE it out of me! Teach that ol allergic reaction a lession I will! Ya’ll know I love me some Lapsang Souchong! With this sample I went past the recommended steep time by 1 minute because I like my tea full bodied. Um, smelled nice and smoky but not in a room filled with smoke sort of way. In other words, no one was going to call the Fire Department.

The golden brown liquor looked just right when I took my first gulp, hum, which was milder and sweeter than I was expecting. I’ve been drinking a bold and salty Lapsang Souchong with a slightly burnt edge for some time but this was different. This one was smooth and mild with far less salt, and with tannin at the finish creating juiciness.

I added sweetening (I know that Indigobloom does this too) and cream which created a nicely balanced morning cup of smoked, buttery sweet tea. Perfect pairing would be toast and jam or sweet bagels.

FYI
Just a note for anyone with food allergies (like me)…Rooibos is in the legume family which I found out by getting a reaction…arf…so you should avoid it! Who knew! Made my throat and mouth all scratchy and sore and swollen and I felt awful…could have been worse!

Ok… being brave tonight! Trying my first straight lapsang souchong, courtesy of Indigobloom!

I do love campfire, and smoked meat, so this tea does smell quite good. I just can’t shake the desire to eat a large piece of beef jerky .

Oh man. So smoky. SO SMOKY. Shocker, eh? Ooh, this may not be the best tea to mix with others, as the smoky flavour is lingering in my mouth. It’s pretty smooth… no astringency. Really tastes like liquid smoke in a cup. It’s not actually as strong as I was thinking it could be. I kind of like it. However, I think it’s better blended with other things… brings out the maple syrup Let’s see what this does!

OK! Added way too much. But… I like it! If I add salt will it taste like maple bacon?? Hmm, not sure I want to possibly ruin it. I like it sweet and smoky.

I think lapsang souchong will be a tea for me to mix with others for kicks, not to drink straight. This one’s perfectly drinkable, but I think adding smoky notes to other chocolate teas will be much more fun.

Thanks again for the sample, Indigobloom!

ETA: Second infusion is weaker, but I dosed it with maple syrup anyhow. I suspect the smokiness of this one could last a long time, so I think I’ll stop at two infusions. Or maybe three.

After sweet black teas, I believe my next favorite category is smoky black teas. I’ve tried a few Lapsang Souchong teas in the past and liked them all. I was looking forward to trying The Spice and Tea Exchange’s (TSTE) entry in this arena. Their black chocolate tea showed me that they know how to load a tea with flavor.

As I opened the zip-lock pouch of thin black tea leaves, my nostrils were instantly slapped soundly by a potent campfire aroma. It was a deep rich odor that almost smelled like burning hickory wood.

I brewed the leaves at 212 degrees for four minutes (my choice as TSTE does not include steeping instructions). The finished liquor was a deep amber color. A strong smoky smell that reminded me of my Boy Scout campout days erupted from the tea pot and filled my kitchen.

The initial sip shot strong smoky signals to my taste buds at the speed of light. Although quite potent, the taste was also smooth and complete. The smoky flavor of this tea was so well defined and complex that I kept trying to identify the components that comprised it. (I’m still leaning toward hickory wood.) There was no bitterness whatsoever. The flavor of each sip was as full and detailed as the one before. The aftertaste delightfully echoed the great flavor. The black tea taste took a backseat as it usually does with good smoky teas.

This is a fantastic Lapsang Souchong tea with all of the elements that you would want in this blend and more. I will be reaching for this selection in the morning again soon. TSTE’s teas are pricey but I don’t feel cheated.

This was my first experience with a Lapsang Souchong and I fell head over heels with the warm and deep smokey aroma. I could just sit and inhale this all day long (but then people would stare and my tea would get cold…)

I’ve dubbed this my favorite black tea so far and I personally enjoy this one over Adagio’s Lapsang Souchong.

This is one of my new favorite teas. It’s the first Lapsang Souchong that I’ve tried so I can’t really compare it to any others, but this tea is perfect for me in the office. The smokiness reminds me of campfire smoke and latakia tobacco. It’s the closest thing I can get to being outdoors while still being stuck in the office.

When I first tried it, I was surprised by the intensity of the smokiness. I actually didn’t care for the first cup I made of it. I gave it another try a couple days later because the smell of it was so intriguing. I’m glad I did. Either the smoke flavor mellowed out after I opened the package or I knew what to expect so it wasn’t as overwhelming, but I enjoyed this tea immensely after the first time I tried it. I regularly grab for this one for a break during the day at the office now. I think it would be great to have outside while actually sitting around a campfire…

This was my first experience with Lapsang Souchong! I’m not a huge fan of smoke flavor in food or beverages, so the strong smoky flavor of this tea wasn’t my favorite. However, it definitely seems like a high quality tea. The leaves are large and unbroken and have a lovely sweet/smoky scent. And although the flavor was too smoky for my tastes, the tea was nice and smooth with no bitterness or astringency. With a splash of milk to calm down the smoke, I found this a pleasant breakfast tea.

I have been drinking this all day. As I am new to tea, I have many questions. Am I making it right (195 degrees, 5 minute steep)? It tastes good, not as smokey as others I have had in bags in the past, yet certainly more complex in flavor. I’d certainly buy it again, even more so if the stores wasn’t over an hour away, with what can be difficult parking. Any who…I like it, it makes me happy, and the taste lingers on my taste buds, in a smokey, happy, charming sort of way/