Russian Caravan (TB60)

One of my Harp students came over for tea & scones (amy, the recipe is over in the discussions group), and gave me a bag of this tea & a russian tea drinking glass!! There is a photo on my FB, if anyone would like to see the glass: https://www.facebook.com/terri.langerak

Of course, I immediately made some of the tea, & it’s decent, although I was expecting more smoke, LOL.

Got this one from Tommy the Toad in a swap. The first time I had it, my water wasn’t hot enough so the leaves didn’t quite unfurl as much as they should have. But I noticed them sort of doing the same thing this time? It was a good, smooth tea, but it didn’t really have much of a character.

Nice in the AM w/a little bit of milk and sugar. Has a light smoky flavor , Very nice and smooth.

I had wanted to taste a Russian Caravan for a long time and I finally have with Upton’s variety. It smells and tastes to me like how one might describe the classic Darjeeling taste profile, except maybe with less sweetness, freshness, and more of that “autumn leaves” Oolonginess, (which I love). The taste is probably a consequence of it being a BLEND, and has most likely has Oolongs, Dars, and other black teas from SE Asia rolled into it.

I like this tea though, even despite it really not having a unique character of its own… it has blue blood.

My dad seems to like this tea, but its not what I would normally choose. A cross between lapsang and keemun – a hint of smoke and a hint of sweet. The aftertaste reminds me of a congou. This one from Upton is a bit finicky to brew, easy to get too much leaf and some bitterness. I wouldn’t purchase, but I don’t mind drinking it .

Upton Tea Imports Russian Caravan offers a kinder, gentler Lapsang Souchong experience. Well, that’s my impression anyway. My understanding is that Russian Caravan is a blend of Lapsang Souchong with others teas, usually keemun and oolong, but some renditions seem more black than others. In all cases, this one included, the smoky campfire aspect of intense single origin Lapsang Souchong is considerably tamed, since it is offset by the presence of the counterbalancing teas.

This is a very good blend, as evidenced by the fact that it tastes smooth and not at all scratchy or bitter even au naturel. The liquor is a rich red brown, but there is no malty flavor (as in Assam) whatsoever. I find that though it is perfectly potable plain, this Russian Caravan is enhanced with cream, which is how I am drinking it right now.

Another fine offering from Upton Tea Imports, my first “real tea” company. I am happy still to have a can of this yummy stuff around, and glad to find today that its flavor has not suffered from old age in the least.

I should perhaps add that my lot is from TB70, which appears to be the “superior” grade of Upton Russian Caravan.