I really had no idea what to expect. It kind of boggled my mind trying to picture LS without the heavy smoke. Would it be more like a Jin Jun Mei or Bohea? It is pretty much neither. When I first sniffed the open bag, I got a light note that seemed kind of grapey like a Nepalese tea. This quickly passed and was replaced with a hefty roasted aroma along with subtle cocoa notes.
3 minute steep in 195 F water produced a deep orange cup with ruby undertones. While the mug had the roasted aroma the taste was more woods and deep forest leaves. The roastiness is much less hardcore than the aroma. No bitterness and only a mild briskness. Hearty and rich came to mind.
Halfway through the mug I added a tiny amount of sweetener. It took it really well. Burnt sugar and cocoa notes are more obvious now. I did not try but would imagine it would handle milk well.
Contemplating trying this again as an iced tea.
People who liked this
Comments
Would you say that it acts more like a pu-erh then?
No, nothing like a puerh. Definitely a black tea. The scent is more like a heavy roasted oolong. The taste maybe between the two but definitely black tea, just without the heavy smoke.
Interesting—strength without smoke! Sounds great.
Would you say that it acts more like a pu-erh then?
No, nothing like a puerh. Definitely a black tea. The scent is more like a heavy roasted oolong. The taste maybe between the two but definitely black tea, just without the heavy smoke.
Interesting—strength without smoke! Sounds great.