90

First, when I just discovered smoky Lapsang Souchong I was madly in love with it: because it was so different, strong, with such a distinct personality – I like assertive teas. Then gradually I began to lose my interest when it became clear that smoky Lapsang manufacturers often use second-grade teas as a base and the smokiness itself frequently comes from the cost-cutting, industrial scale smoking process that completely overpowers the base with some very generic and uninteresting smokiness. And once I even encountered the unmistakable acridity of the liquid smoke!

So, I approached this sample bag from Teavivre with weariness and low expectations. But this tea restored my faith in smoky Lapsangs: they are a great, distinct kind of tea – when done right. This tea has an absolutely fantastic smokiness. The fragrant is incredibly rich and real; you can close your eyes and almost hear the cracking of the pine branches and needles in the campfire. I usually spend a minute or two just inhaling the aroma before taking a first sip.

The taste is very piny and smoky, with a good deal of complexity. It also feels very authentic and not mass-produced at all. A looong piny aftertaste. The tea itself is not shining through – it is by no means a lightly smoked Lapsang – but it does add some sweetness, which becomes more pronounced with subsequent steeps. And this tea can produce several of them without substantively changing its character.

This is not a tea for everyone. It is barely borderline a tea at all. But it is very “real” and can easily command one’s attention: I actually was late for a work meeting because I just HAD to finish this cup.

P.S. I ranked it so highly since I consider it to be a great representation of the class and not because it reveals the complexity of the tea itself and calls for the exploration with a gaiwan and a stop watch. The tea itself is moderately broken and probably not the best: it is all about smoke and pine.

Flavors: Campfire, Pine, Smoke, Sweet

Martin Bednář

I am always very cautious when it comes to Lapsang Souchong. I had several, one was really good, while others were like boiled dirty socks. I used to hate them – but now when is some good one I don´t mind.

Probably had lowcost versions before.

Mastress Alita

I can’t handle the smoke in them; smoke is one of my migraine triggers, and just the heavy smoke aroma is enough to trigger that reaction in my brain even though there is no “presence” of real smoke. But I tried the “unsmoked” variety of lapsang souchong for the first time last year and… oooooooh my lands, that is now my favorite tea, hands down! I couldn’t believe the difference!

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Martin Bednář

I am always very cautious when it comes to Lapsang Souchong. I had several, one was really good, while others were like boiled dirty socks. I used to hate them – but now when is some good one I don´t mind.

Probably had lowcost versions before.

Mastress Alita

I can’t handle the smoke in them; smoke is one of my migraine triggers, and just the heavy smoke aroma is enough to trigger that reaction in my brain even though there is no “presence” of real smoke. But I tried the “unsmoked” variety of lapsang souchong for the first time last year and… oooooooh my lands, that is now my favorite tea, hands down! I couldn’t believe the difference!

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Bio

I like to drink teas to recreate a specific mood, or just to take a break at work. The world of tea is so endless, patiently waiting for exploration and rewarding you in many ways big and small.

I am looking forward to years of playing with tea leaves, gaiwans, cups, and YouTube videos.

My ratings:

90 or more – a very good/excellent tea, I can see myself ordering it again.

80-89 – it is a good tea, I enjoyed it but not enough to reorder.

70-79 – an OK, drinkable tea but there are certainly much better options even in the same class/type.

60-69 – this tea has such major flaws that you have to force yourself to finish what you ordered.

<60 – truly horrible teas that must be avoided at all costs.

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USA

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