A tasting note from sophistre made me want to try this with a little half & half since sometimes the tarry aspect of this tea is just a hair too much for me. I didn’t have a ton left so I figured if I was going to do it, I needed to do it on my next cup. Which is today.
Right away I could tell a difference – even the smell seemed sweeter, not as thick. Still smoky but without the same edge. The taste matched the smell – rich and smoky but no longer coating my tongue as heavily. It has gone from heavy barbeque sauce to smoked meat with a light coating of barbeque sauce. And that sweetness that always seems to surprise me is even more noticeable.
Oh, the half & half doesn’t go so far as to make this a mild tea – no way – but it smoothes it out a little so it doesn’t feel as heavy/rich and that’s really nice. If this weren’t my last of this tea, I’d probably have it with half & half from here on out. But since it is, I’ll just have to try the half & half thing with the other lapsang souchong I have just to see how that goes. Giving the rating a little nudges upward because this really is great.
4g/11oz
