Lapsang Souchong

I just finished my Shakespeare sample of this ::tear:: and it was just as yummy as the first time around for me. I got the same beignet sweetness and smoke-filled oomph. The smoke this time around reminded me of when I’d clean out my fireplace in Colorado: the remnants of a cozy fire. I also got a bit more of an almost metallic-like taste — it wasn’t unpleasant, but it was worth noting since I can’t say that I’ve had that experience with a lapsang before. Just a great smokey tea. TG

I’ve been drinking Lapsang Souchong Black Dragon by Upton Tea’s every morning for a couple of weeks and truly love it. Late yesterday I received an order from Narien Teas (ten days from order to delivery and they have a lot of small inexpensive sampler bags).

This one is a bit stronger than Black Dragon when it comes to the smoky effect. Black Dragon has a tad of natural sweetness enfolded in there. I’d call this one a more vigorous, robust smoke flavoured tea. It’s very good. My difficulty with Lapsang Souchongs is that I don’t have the palate to pick out the individual notes very well. I seem to like them all and they provide a bracing start to the day. I have yet to give my heart away to any one brand of LS but I’ve given my heart away to this genre of tea.

I have never given a tea 100 points before, and l’m not exactly sure what a 100 point tea would have to do for me. Massage my feet? Cook me dinner? This as close to 100 as it gets for me. I surprisingly fell in love with this tea. It’s not as bitter or as strong as you would expect from the smell – and this is coming from someone who’s perhaps had Lapsang souchong once, maybe twice years before, so I don’t really have anything to compare it to. But I enjoy this tea so much and I find that the smell along centers me somehow, easing away stress. I picture myself in the deep woods, in autumn, with every sip. It’s magical. Really.