Lapsang Souchong

Sipdown (124). Cold-brewed this last night for about 15 hours. Sadly I’m not sure this one is ideal for it, because the leaves didn’t open up all that much. Despite that the tea flavor still got into the water.

Cold-brewed this tastes like smoke-flavored water. There’s a little bit of sweetness or even fruitiness in the aftertaste, but I’m really not wowed. I’m going to have to declare this as Not My Thing, but I won’t say that of all Lapsang Souchong until I’ve tried at least a couple more. It might be the intense burnt-pine flavor of this that’s putting me off.

By the way, I remembered what the smell reminded me of! It was a shampoo I hated a few years ago. Odd how smell can make you remember these things.

I adore Art of Tea’s LS, and I keep that one on hand now. Also love Alberta Street Chai. Very excited to try this LS and see how it is; thanks, Meghann, for sending this sample my way!!

It’s a bit sweeter than Art of Tea’s. It doesn’t seem as fall-leaves-burning tasting, either, rather just plain smoky. And the smokiness tends to linger as an aftertaste. It’s good, but I prefer Art of Tea’s LS with its richer smokiness.

Mmm, what a nice full-bodied smokiness when I open the packet. It took me a while to get into Lapsang Souchong, but now I really enjoy it. For me a good one has a balance between the smokiness and the tea flavors, and the smokiness is itself made up of individual sub-components. Let’s see how this one measures up.

I see that they’re recommending 5-7 minutes steeping time, so I’ll go with 6 and assess it there. The brew is a clear dark golden-brown, and it smells really good. I’m getting a malty scent in with the smoke, and more – just an overall savory quality to it, like a well-cured meat (apologies to my vegetarian friends).

Taste: nice! Good balance there between the elements. The smoke is complex enough for my taste, and features the maltiness I smelled before as well as pine. It does not overpower the taste of the tea and doesn’t burn the back of my throat – both of which I’ve experienced with other Lapsang Souchongs.

Am I crazy to try the second half of this with cream and sugar? What the heck, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Wow, surprising how much that tones down the smokiness, and also brings out flavors that remind me of very dark chocolate. The smoke is more an ambience than the main star at this point, and that works well for me. I’d definitely drink this again – it’s versatile and tasty.

Edit: I’m going to bump up the score a little because now at 15 minutes later I’m still getting this incredible smokey chocolate aftertaste. Yum!

Finished up the rest of my stash today and I under infused…it’s bark was worse than it’s bite so to speak…a little weak with flavor but the scent is truly smoky.

What a pleasant surprise. I truly enjoyed drinking this one. It was smokey but it didn’t hurt my throat. It was as Goldielocks (Sp?) put it, just right. My 3 year old daughter had a few sips and enjoyed it. Although, she loves all tea. Well, that I know of at least. She hasn’t had as manny as I have. LOL :o)

Mmm…I do love a good smoky lapsang souchong, and Golden Moon delivers on that with this tea. The dry leaves have an intensely smoky sweet aroma…almost bacon-y. Almost. I usually mix lapsang souchong with an oolong to get a more rounded mouth feel, but I didn’t need that with this one. The smoky flavor carried through to the initial and second brews. A good morning shakeup from my usual matés.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2.5 tsp
Water: 2 zarafina cups
Tool: Zarafina black-loose-medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: campfire
Steeped Tea Smell: campfire, sweet
Flavor: sweet smoke, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: black tea
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

MilitiaJim was a little excited to have some tea, and grabbed a random Golden Moon sampler pack, so I don’t have pictures of the loose leaf.

The reason I do not like lapsang souchong is not the flavor, but the constant fear and anxiety they give me – I keep looking for the fire and panicking that we need to evacuate.

Overall the tea is a sweet smoky smooth black tea with little astringency.

Resteep: Zarafina black-loose-strong = a very weak cup of black tea with smoky hints

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/golden-moon-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

I’m taking abuse in defense of tea! I opened the Golden Moon Lapsang Souchong sampler this rainy, dreary morning. I couldn’t imagine a better type of day to “get this one out of the way”. Opening the package brought back the smells of camping with the Boy Scouts in the East Texas Piney Woods…and abuse from my office mates for stinking the place up! I make no pretense, I don’t like smokey teas; I expected this tea sample to be a trial. So now I’m eating smokey humble pie. This tea is much better than anticipated…the smell is worse than its bite! I’ve adjusted though…no breathing in when taking a sip. The tea is mild and carries the smoke lightly and well, but thats about all I can say. I don’t get much in the way of nuances from the tea itself. Campfire tea!

Ah Lapsang Souchon, after trying a handful of black teas, you’re the one I return to. ::sigh of contentment:: This is the second LS that I’ve tried – the other being from Adagio. I think that I prefer Adagio’s, but it’s been several weeks since I’ve had it. I think that I must have it tomorrow morning to do a mini-comparison. I don’t even know how to describe the tastes of either one of these. This sample seems to be a gentler smell of smoke. My initial reaction is that whereas the Adagio goes “RAWR!” this one goes “Meow.” Nothing wrong with that, but first thing in the morning I’d prefer the RAWR. NE

Ummm this smells reaaaaaly smoked. Idk. Not so optimistic about liking this one. But worth a try. My first smoked tea.

Don’t like this smell and I so don’t wanna try it. Takes a deep breath.
OK well it’s more drinkable than pu-erh. Tastes smoked which is weird – but better than it smells. But I must say id rather eat smoked cheese which this reminds me of than drink this tea.

Wouldn’t buy it. Smoked goes better with food… Imho.
Seeing that it has good ratings from the pro tasters here ;) I will skip mine.

I guess this is a love it or hate it kind of tea…