China Lapsang Souchong

Thank you Bonnie for this sample ;)

This is a tea that need multiple tasting “sessions” to “explore it further” or “get it”!! It is a complex tea that is very smokey on the forefront or your taste buds, then changes to the typical “black tea” taste, while leaving behind a very pleasant smokey aftertaste that can linger on the palate for 5-10 minutes!! While accomplishing all these feats at the same time, it has a very silky mouth feel that is easily discernible! Even though I am not a fan of “Black Teas”..this is a very well made tea, that can easily change someones mind to the possibilities that Black tea can offer to the palate :)

Song Pairing “Seashell” By Skylab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhIN-4NXFXA

Big Trouble in Little Lapsang! #3 of 3

Ah yes and the best of the three for last. Thank you Bonnie for sending me another great tea from your backyard teahouse!

The reason I am rating this one highest is mostly because of two distinct factors. #1, the smokiness here actually has a flavor of its own instead of just tasting burnt. Try not to be grossed out, but if you have ever used a product called Liquid Smoke (hickory) as a boost to your barbequed chicken then you may have an idea of what I am talking about. Yes it’s smoky but not like an ashtray. #2, the base flavor of Happy Lucky’s LS holds its own – right through and through. There is a caramel nuttiness that goes pound for pound with the hickory smoke and creates, in my mind, what I imagine to be one of the better LS options out there for an aromatically charged balance of complexities that would impress many who like this kind of tea already from time to time.

I received this tea from Bonnie. Thank you, Bonnie!

I used to smoke tobacco pipes. I got into it as a qualitative sociologist who needed to study a social group. Along the way I became fascinated with learning about different types of tobacco, and after I wrote my paper I maintained my interest in pipes for a few years, smoking while I graded papers and the like. Then I stopped – got scared for my health.

This tea instantly reminded me of latakia tobacco. And shoe leather. When I first got into tea I started to wonder if one of its draws is its connection to the consumption of tobacco leaves. I loved learning about different tobaccos leaves, their treatment, flavor, aroma and other qualities. With tea I am equally enthralled. This particular tea kind of bridges the gap between Camellia sinensis and Nicotiana for me. Drinking it makes me kind of nervous, as if I’m smoking again. I even feel a little bite on my tongue just as I used to feel as a newbie pipe smoker (though THAT bite came from steaming my tongue half to death). Once I get past the smoky quality of the tea, I detect a smoothness and body that are also pleasantly satisfying. I drank this first mug straight- I’m not sure if I want to alter the flavor with anything.

Do I like this tea? I do. I think I like it mainly because of its uniqueness and the memories it brings forth. I will definitely order some, but I think it will last a long time- it’s not a tea I’ll drink often. I can see drinking it in cold weather- it’s got a warm-you-up quality to it. Maybe it’s the campfire undertone, but I imagine drinking this on the back porch on a cool Fall evening, wrapped in a blanket and gazing at shooting stars.

Thank You Bonnie for this sample

This is my third Lapsang Souchong I have tried (previous were bagged from Choice Teas and Twinnings)

I made a small pot from the sample Bonnie sent.
It’s the weekend – and weekends are for loose teas.
I boiled some water, and put the sample in the pot.
The pot makes about 2-3 cups of tea.

I didn’t hesitate to add a splash of milk and two sugar packets, from previous Lapsang Souchong experience.
For breakfast, I’m eating a smoked sausage to complement this tea.

I enjoy Lapsang Souchong’s in the morning, as a first tea.
This tea was strong, had flavor, and was smooth.

I’m going for Lap Band Lapsang surgery to fix my slouching problem I have today. :)

I googled “happy luckys tea house”
and got:
http://www.happyluckys.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-luckys-teahouse-and-treasures-fort-collins

Bonnie shared this one with me. We’re fairly fond of LS in this household, but I don’t usually try very many different ones. Like with most things, I have a very particular idea of the perfect specimen, and I’ve already found that from AC Perchs. It’s just the right amount of smoke and just the right sort of strength for me, so I have little need to ‘shop around’ as it were. If I’m shopping somewhere else and we’re out of it, I’ll get one, but that’s really as far as my shopping around goes mostly. Nevertheless, when someone shares one with me, I’m hardly going to refuse it, am I? That would be silly.

I’m under the impression that this one is Bonnie’s favourite LS, and if I’m right in that then I suspect we have similar ideas of how the best LS should be, because it strikes me as similar to the one that is my favourite. I can’t remember if I shared some of that one with her. I hope I did.

The aroma is smoky and sweet and just about equal measures, and this goes for the flavour as well. Lots of smoke, but also LOTS of body. Lots, especially, of that sweet fruity note that nearly drove me mad the first time I discovered it in the ACP one. There’s a bit of a mineral note on the end of the sip, though, which I don’t think my usual LS has, but that’s really the only major difference between the two.