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“I was feeling brave a couple of visits to the grocery store ago and I picked up about a tablespoon of this. It promptly caused my pantry to smell like I had been frying meat in it, so I stuffed...” Read full tasting note
“As a Southerner, barbecue sauce is in my veins. In these parts, we like just about everything smoked except ice cream. In fact, if you ever pass through my neck of the woods, let me know. I’ll...” Read full tasting note
“From what I’ve read here on Steepster, everyone has an opinion on lapsang souchong. Being the not-so-gourment Steepsterite, I had no idea what that was. Luckily, the local co-op sells RTOP loose...” Read full tasting note
“Nothing particularly special about this Lapsang. For me, it lacks the small nuances that other high quality LS’s have to offer. This LS is straight up smoke with just a hint of sweetness as it...” Read full tasting note
The Tea of Mystery – The entrancing, smokey character of this tea is achieved by an elaborate process. The hand-picked leaves are smoked over pinewood embers, for a distinct and mysterious cup.
The Republic of Tea is a progressive and socially conscious business recognized for being the leading purveyor of more than 200 premium teas and herbs, ready-to-drink iced teas and more. Founded in 1992, The Republic of Tea sparked a tea revolution in America with the purpose of enriching people’s lives through the experience of premium teas and a Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp lifestyle.
Any Lapsang is one of those things you either love or hate. It smells like leather, or a bonfire, or meat— or all of the above— and that’s kind of a turn off for a lot of people, but when you brew it up, it’s no smokier than a Russian Caravan tea most of the time. It’s great for winter. Good with sugar and milk. If you’re eating with it, don’t do anything too delicate— this is a tea for a fried breakfast, not for tea cakes (unless you have one hearty enough to dip without it falling apart; it’s good on a good buttery-sweet sort of cake).
Twinnings has a gentler one to start with. Stash has a bolder one to move on to. The ones direct from China are bolder still, and higher-quality tea makes them more complex.
I first enjoyed a cup of Lapsang Souchang at Russian Tea Time in Chicago. This is not that! I have had this sitting in my pantry for close to a decade because neither I nor anyone in my family want to drink it; the smokey, barbecue-like flavor is just too strong. Fortunately, I have enjoyed sticking my nose in the canister to smell its potent, almost pipe tobacco fragrance every once in a while to make the price somewhat worth it. I need room, so it is going in the trash.
Flavors: Barnyard, Char, Smoke, Tobacco
This is a fair example of LS that is smoky smelling and smoking tasting. I wouldn’t say this is anything special, but a nice weekday tea for a morning pick me up. I can get it from the bulk tea at the local gourmet food market and is a staple in my cupboard when I don’t feel like it’s a pu-erh morning.
Flavors: Smoke, Smooth
Not sure that drinking two pots of this after midnight was a great idea, but the taste was smooth and smokey and enjoyed it more than the Adagio one I bought, whose flavor was stronger. I recommend drinking a responsible amount of this tea. Only then can cha qi be attempted.
