Laoshan Black

This one was calling my name this morning. It’s not something I would reach for everyday but I do really like it.

I had stashed it in the small basket Hubby keeps his favorites in and he will tell me to randomly put things in it for him to try. He doesn’t like rifling through the samples I have very often and would rather pick something out quickly. More often he asks me to make something for him and to “surprise” him. Anyway, he had better hurry if he wants to try some of this on his own because I believe there is enough for 1 cup left. I did put it back in his basket, so we’ll see if he drinks it before I go looking for it again.

Today I wanted something black, rich, & different w/o all the added flavors. I do reach for plain once and awhile, although I can’t say that for greens or whites yet (although I’m not sure I’ve tried a plain white). I remembered this being malty & rich with a bit of chocolate. Just as I recalled… still yum with my bit of sugar.

The first cup I added a touch of raw sugar and a splash of milk. The second steep was an oopsie…. major oversteep, but somehow it still came out good w/a touch of sugar. Dare I try for a third steep? I just might have to eek the goodness out of this one :) or poor Hubby will miss out unless I go for an order sometime. Thanks again CelebriTEA for sharing a sampler of this one!

Laoshan Black is a STRONG TEA, drink with caution, a good flavor but don’t over do it with the leaves.

Received my Verdant order in the mail today. I called in sick so I was home when it came, which is good because my boyfriend gets off work before I do and always sees my parcels before I can hide them, so he has no idea I had another tea delivery :)

I tried this one first because it smelled quite malty and chocolatey. I ended up ruining two batches of this by forgetting about it, and man was it awful oversteeped. I finally got it right and this tea wasn’t what I thought it would be. I wasn’t getting any chocolate or caramel notes, only a roasted barley flavour. It was still quite good, especially with agave and cream, but I’m hoping I’ll notice some of the other flavours the more I drink this.

This came with an order as a sample, and I was pleasantly surprised. The intense chocolate and caramel taste was not something I expected in a black tea, and the aroma was very potent. Incredible!

ok, this will be one of the weirder reviews on steepster. Yesterday i posted to see how I should steep this tea using a teaspoon, a finum and a timer (I don’t know how to use anything but a teapot at this point in my tea education). I didn’t want to ruin this “legendary” tea for myself with a stupid steep (which i do lots of)….. so this morning I took the plunge and steeped 3 tsp in 16 oz of water for 3 minutes….I couldn’t wait to smell this wet (as dry is was a lovely deep chocolate smelling tea)… so I steep it and what do I smell?

HASHISH OR POT!!??!! I dunno which one of those things it was that I smell at concerts. Seriously. I was transported straight back to the California Music Festival with REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith and Ted Nugent headlining…. I tried again. BAM! Same thing!!! Hash or Pot!!! Did anyone else get the same note off of this? Now that I’m drinking it, (with milk and sugar of course) I’m getting some of the other notes… wood, barley, bread, rolling papers (seriously, I’m getting a bit of paper-ish thing….maybe that’s the wood note). This is a tea with a ton of depth, even on first steeping by a rookie. I can see why many have made a fuss over this…. firstly, you get a flashback for free (if you went to concerts in the 70s and 80s…hahaha), secondly, this is a wonderfully complex tea that I can detect NO astringency from whatsoever. Because I take milk and sugar in all my tea, I can taste “through” them to the subtleties that each tea brings. I would not hesitate to recommend this tea to an avid tea drinker….or a pothead. Fabulous.

DANG! This tea makes me want to go all James Brown and yell “Excuse me while I do the boogaloo” or “Jump back and kiss myself!” No secret that I’m a big bold tea lover. This one goes directly and immediately without stopping into my deep dark pantheon along with Zhi Gong Fu Black, Mandala Black Beauty and even my beloved Special Dark.

I made beer a few times and this reminds me very very much of the smell and taste of the dark crystal malt that I chewed like candy to the point that I had to buy more to make beer.

This is round and malty and grainy and sweet and smooooooth. I made an error by only buying 2 ounces but that will be corrected immediately. According to Verdant’s website, this was an autumn harvest. I know there is discussion about one not being quite as wonderful as the other – and I don’t know which one of those this is – but if there is an even more wonderful one than this – I want to taste that bad boy.

Mr. and Mrs. He of Laoshan Village – rock on with your bad selves and thank you for making this tea so I may enjoy it.

Thank you Sil for this sample.
I’ve been wary of trying this one as it’s so beloved by everyone and that may influence my rating (as much as I will try not to let it) due to expectations. Well it’s time I finally try it, and on my black tea day. This tea smells sweet and chocolatey with malt and smoke, a very nice introduction.

Once steeped it has an amazing smoky chocolate scent that is sweet yet malty. The flavour matches it’s wonderful scent for the most part. I can note chocolate, caramel, smoke, malt and dark fruit notes like fermented plum. It’s of medium strength with a nice sweetness and remains very smooth throughout. Has a little dryness in the after taste.

I really enjoyed my pot of this today and so did my husband, it reminded me a little of Teavivre’s Fengqing Dragon Pearl. I would definitely buy some of this for regular use if I was in US/CAN.

With the crap luck I’ve been having with flavoured teas so far today I figured a nice black tea might be just what I needed to knock my tastebuds back into working order.

This – as many of the other reviewers have mentioned – is a very good black. It’s complex and delightfully layered…it sounds almost silly, but I actually get a salty sort of sunflower seed taste in the front followed by a thick woodsy note and a mellow lingering burnt sort of thing at the end.

Sadly, though, I’m not a fan of strong black teas in general. I’d much rather have a breakfast blend or silky flavoured tea over this…and with that in mind my rating reflects my personal preference in teas instead of the quality of this delightful cup.

Finally got to try this tea.

My friend brought it over and I have been enjoying it so much. He gave me a small bag and now I have enough for a few days, its great before bed and very pleasant.

1.5 tbsp for 375 ml

Definitely chocolate notes in dry leaf aroma and brewed tea. Smooth hay notes. Hints of cocoa flaour in brewed tea. I would like to try this one infused for a bit of a longer time.