Lesson of the day: Don’t judge a tea by its overwhelming campfire smell.
I was feeling brave so I decided to once and for all tackle the sample Bonnie sent me of this tea. Smelling it once again I almost gave up immediately. It’s like every possible smoked item you could think of to the power of five. Campfires, liquid smoke, leather, tobacco, even after it’s steeped for almost 3 minutes, the cup of tea retains those same scents.
Just keep telling yourself bacon.
Finally brave enough to sip…it’s different. It’s spicy, smoky, and a little sweet. Since I’ve really never had anything smokier than the Smoky Chocolate from 52 Teas I am having a massive “oh my god this isn’t for drinking this smells like bacon dipped in liquid smoke kept in a leather purse!” reaction.
Going to keep sipping though. If I can stand it this way then if I made it more like everyone else has I should have less of a problem in the future. Yay trying new things!
It has a lot of depth but it’s not like being placed directly in the path of barbecue smoke while sitting at a campfire while wearing leather. Oh I can’t get used it yet! It’s just so weird. At least I seem to be having a better time with it than I had with ice skating.
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I had kind of the same thought with my first try of lapsang (mine was from Upton). As fond as I am of smoked… well… everything else in the world, it was just a little too weird for me. I did order a sample from Teavivre, figured I’d give it a shot. But so far, surprisingly not for me.
Yeah I want to like it because it’s tastier than it smells but still just so weird. I have a sample from Teavivre too but I don’t know.
Laughing! So funny! It’s ok not everyone likes to drink LS! Good to cook with though. Read my note to you about that. Steam veggies like broccoli and good in pasta water (use the tea sac) .
LS is an acquired taste that you don’t have to acquire, so don’t feel compelled to like it. It’s not for me either. I got a lot of beef jurky that’s been sitting in campfire smoke when I tried it…not an entirely appetizing taste. But everyone can’t like the same thing or it’d be a boring world! At least you tried it!
So true and give it to someone else and they love it!
I probably shouldn’t have even drank it to begin with after my throat being sore. I just wanted something new and didn’t even think until I was sipping it, ha. I’ll at least give the Teavivre one a shot too, but I definitely think I can cook with it, that’s what it just feels like it needs..something more than liquid for all that flavor. Using it to make pasta sounds awesome. I wonder if you can infuse it into oil, that would be very interesting with like caramelized onions.
Or I can use Google instead of just wondering to myself: http://whiteaugusttea.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/tea-infused-oil/
I infuse tea into lots of things. Make flavored honey, syrup, vinegars for salads. Steaing veggies with LS or lemony tea. All kinds of things. Have yet to put a tea sack with tea inside a bird.
Amanda, I was afraid of lapsangs too but now I actually like them, though I need to be in the mood for it. You can try steeping it for shorter amounts of time as well.
I have tried one straight LS, and ended up deciding that although I do like smokiness, I like it wayyyy better with some milk and sugar! Maybe one day I’ll meet a smoky tea that will change my mind, but most of the ones I’ve tried so far (52teas blends and the straight LS) are much better all doctored up :)
I had kind of the same thought with my first try of lapsang (mine was from Upton). As fond as I am of smoked… well… everything else in the world, it was just a little too weird for me. I did order a sample from Teavivre, figured I’d give it a shot. But so far, surprisingly not for me.
Yeah I want to like it because it’s tastier than it smells but still just so weird. I have a sample from Teavivre too but I don’t know.
Laughing! So funny! It’s ok not everyone likes to drink LS! Good to cook with though. Read my note to you about that. Steam veggies like broccoli and good in pasta water (use the tea sac) .
LS is an acquired taste that you don’t have to acquire, so don’t feel compelled to like it. It’s not for me either. I got a lot of beef jurky that’s been sitting in campfire smoke when I tried it…not an entirely appetizing taste. But everyone can’t like the same thing or it’d be a boring world! At least you tried it!
So true and give it to someone else and they love it!
I probably shouldn’t have even drank it to begin with after my throat being sore. I just wanted something new and didn’t even think until I was sipping it, ha. I’ll at least give the Teavivre one a shot too, but I definitely think I can cook with it, that’s what it just feels like it needs..something more than liquid for all that flavor. Using it to make pasta sounds awesome. I wonder if you can infuse it into oil, that would be very interesting with like caramelized onions.
Or I can use Google instead of just wondering to myself: http://whiteaugusttea.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/tea-infused-oil/
I infuse tea into lots of things. Make flavored honey, syrup, vinegars for salads. Steaing veggies with LS or lemony tea. All kinds of things. Have yet to put a tea sack with tea inside a bird.
Amanda, I was afraid of lapsangs too but now I actually like them, though I need to be in the mood for it. You can try steeping it for shorter amounts of time as well.
I have tried one straight LS, and ended up deciding that although I do like smokiness, I like it wayyyy better with some milk and sugar! Maybe one day I’ll meet a smoky tea that will change my mind, but most of the ones I’ve tried so far (52teas blends and the straight LS) are much better all doctored up :)