lapsang souchong

This is the first tea that I’m trying from the January Steepster Select Box. I have to say that this is the first box that I was kinda-sorta disappointed in, I have tried both the Moroccan Mint and the Chai (but I do love them), and this is the only tea that is new to me, and it’s Lapsang Souchong which is not a favorite of mine.

That being said, I’m actually quite enjoying this. I steeped it in my gaiwan using short steeps (quick rinse, first infusion 45 seconds, second infusion 1 minute, combined these two infusions in one cup), and the result is pleasant. Smoky, yes, but now as I allowed it to cool slightly to a drinkable temperature, I am discovering more of the pine notes in this than I have ever noticed in another Lapsang prior to this tasting. Yes, I know that the tea is smoked over pine needles, but, this is the first time I’ve actually been able to distinguish the pine flavor underneath the smoky overtures. It’s rather nice.

Wow… OK… so before trying this, I was actually disappointed in the Steepster Select box, and now that I’m tasting this, I think that even though the other teas are repeats for me, this tea (a LAPSANG SOUCHONG) has made the box worth it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love those other teas, but, I joined the Steepster Select to explore new teas … THIS kind of experience is why I joined the Steepster Select.

I really wanted to add this to the data base this the way I had it, in their Chicken Spice Rub… but I don’t want to get in trouble. Had tea crusted chicken tonite (make sure you put the spice in a spice mill before applying it). There was something very spicy, but as I don’t normally drink it, and when I do only drink it w/ whiskey added, I couldn’t tell if it was the tea, a spice that’s in the rub, or just because my mom put too much on (it was completely black on both sides of the breast). It was VERY good though. I give the rub a 100, but I’ll wait to rate it til I can rate it as the actual rub.

Oh I am loving this!

Thanks DJ Booth!

Threw in a bit of my Freakin Twilight Fan-Custom Blend from Adagio (strawberries & blood orange black tea) and the sweet and smoky flavors are playing well with each other.

Oh I’m having another one of THOSE days so this is helping. . .a bit. . ..

DJ Booth threw this in as a bonus sample in our swap (Black Dragon for Wild Yunnan Black).

I went with a two minute steep as I’ve found that even my beloved black dragon doesn’t hold up so well to gongfu style short steeps (they quickly become sharp and acerbic).

I like the particular smoke flavor this tea has, but the tea itself is a bit thin. That may simply be because I only have a small amount to work with and I ought to have gone with a smaller mug, I dunno.

Certainly a marvelous lapsang. Not bacon-y or pork rind-y as some of them can be and not all smoke either. I think with a steady supply I could dial in parameters to make this provide an excellent cup, but I’ll stick with my black dragon, I think :-)

I should’ve logged this a while ago. Thanks to the DJBooth for swapping!
This is a great lapsang for the smoke factor over the tea base. This is so good with coconut milk. I had it with some chickpea miso for the one of the best miso shiru recipes I know. Sadly I’m almost out. I hopefully the lapsang on the way will be as much as a culinary delight.

Steeped this is my new gaiwan, with a quick flush and then a 2 minute brew at 185. The aroma is very smokey, much like a campfire that everyone is describing. The infusion is thankfully less intense with a bodied smokey taste with a bit of pine at the end. The second infusion was more to my liking as the flavors are toned down enough to drink rather than sip. I must say sticking my nose into the bag of this tea isn’t exactly the most pleasant experience due to the strength of the armoa of the tea leaves.
However, I am convinced I need to roast a duck or hen and add this tea as part of a rub, perhaps even added to a pork tenderloin schweinebraten, that would be some very awesome eats.
I usually very thoroughly enjoy a good oak/wood aged stout or ale, and wanted to equate this tea to those tastes, but it was not the similar experience I was expecting.

If only it snowed in Texas, I’d like to sit out and sip a small cup of this.

Yum! This was the first tea that I tried from the Steepster Select box. Love the smokiness from it. It reminds me of walking into a smoke shop filled with sausages. I have to cook with this.

I have been a fan of lapsang souchong for many years now. The first time I made Dr. Tea’s lapsang souchong, I was at my office working through some difficult code that was giving me trouble. The smoky aroma and flavor put me in the zone, and this tea has become my go to for tough days at the office. This tea presents a very strong smoky aroma, but the tea is not so smoky that it is overpowering.

I’m not liking this. Normally I enjoy smokey teas, so I expected to like it. It tastes like a camp fire. Not pleasantly.

I love this tea! I purchased a bunch of it when it was on sale. The aroma is fantastic and the Tea is even better. It definitely reminds me of sipping a campfire in a good way. I’ve got a couple of friends….including pizzagirl ;) hooked on this and took it with me to family Christmas. I bonded with my father-in-law and his father-in-law over this tea. When my brother-in-law came to tell him something he paused and said “hang on I’m at Cook’s forest right now”. So I also have him hooked too. I have used it in many recipes in cooking including marrinating turkey in it for chili. I can’t wait to compare it to other lapsangs.

I have had this a few times this semester and it compliments the dreary weather here quite well.

The heavy smoke smell of this lingers in my dorm for hours afterwards. Which isn’t a bad smell or thing but it is probably a good thing that I do not have a roommate to complain about the “campfire”. I really enjoy how smokey and piney this tea is and it reminds me of the summer when we have campfires on the site of an abandoned Christmas tree farm. The smoke is rich, thick, and cloying with the drying pine peaking out every few sips.

Nothing like the smell and taste of a campfire on a cold day where the snow is falling thick and fast. Aaahhhhh. :-)