Lapsang Souchong

Had to try this. The leaves were very smoky, similar to a barbegue grill. The flavor of the brew less so. And I didn’t enjoy it. And I think it gave me a headache.

If you’re a fan of Lapsang Souchong, this is a fine choice. Unfortunately, I’m not. This has a strong (very strong, I mean super-strong) smoky aroma, and as is indicative of all Lapsangs, it tastes much like I imagine licking a charcoal grill would taste like. If that’s your thing, by all means, go for it.

Side note: Combined with some more fruity flavors, however, this could be pretty interesting.

Think woody campfire smoke, inhaled, then consumed as a liquid. Doesn’t make you cough, but otherwise this is pretty much my experience of this tea. Can be pleasant or not depending on your taste and your emotional associations with campfires. I could easily close my eyes and be transported back to some great times with this imagination-inducing tea. Drinking it straight would be an acquired taste, but I’ll blend this with other teas to add a bit of smokey depth.

A fine Lapsang with a very smoky aroma and smooth lingering finish. Might be a little off-putting for those who are still getting used to the taste of Lapsang, but a good standard to have for an everyday drink. Would be a welcome addition to pep up a black tea that needs a little more flavour, like a basic English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast blend or even a medium-bodied Assam.

Lapsang Souchong Black Tea, an unusual and bold tea from the Fujian province of China. Smoked over pine fires in bamboo baskets this tea captures the taste of the fire. It is a perfect tea for cold winter nights…the taste reminded me of warm fires, high mountains, and clear cold skies. You can taste the full spectrum of tea with this type…the warmth from the sun, the aging leaf, and the smoke from the fire in every swallow. It is one of the most intense tea flavors I have come across. Tastes good black and sweetened, but tastes like stale ashes if left to cool too long

Very smoky aroma. dark amber colored liquor. and very smooth. smokyness just barely lingers on the tongue between sips

I have been filling my thermos with this before my hellish Tuesdays (classes from 11.30AM-9.30-10.00PM, thankfully finals are next week) for a few weeks now. This tea is also what helped me survive process for applying to my first graduate school one down three to go. This is not as smokey as I would prefer, but for casual sipping throughout the day it is more than adequate. The pine smoke is there in smell but weakens once brewed, however the woody element from the pine is there full force.