Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
Smoke, Smooth, Sweet
Sold in
Not available
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Cash & Chris
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 15 sec 24 oz / 709 ml

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10 Tasting Notes View all

  • “Looooove! such love for this tea. It’s not harsh or biting at all, like so many other versions I’ve tried. The smokiness in a Lapsang tends to give it a scratchy sensation but not here,...” Read full tasting note
    93
  • “Thank you Indigobloom for this sample! I’ve been a bit unwell (I’ll get to that at the finish) so I decided to SMOKE it out of me! Teach that ol allergic reaction a lession I will! Ya’ll know I...” Read full tasting note
    82
  • “Ok… being brave tonight! Trying my first straight lapsang souchong, courtesy of Indigobloom! I do love campfire, and smoked meat, so this tea does smell quite good. I just can’t shake the desire to...” Read full tasting note
    66
  • “After sweet black teas, I believe my next favorite category is smoky black teas. I’ve tried a few Lapsang Souchong teas in the past and liked them all. I was looking forward to trying The Spice and...” Read full tasting note
    98

From The Spice & Tea Exchange

Classic Chinese smoked tea. China tea leaves are smoked over fir tree root to give this very unique tea its dark and rich flavor. Contains caffeine.

About The Spice & Tea Exchange View company

Company description not available.

10 Tasting Notes

93
1759 tasting notes

Looooove! such love for this tea.
It’s not harsh or biting at all, like so many other versions I’ve tried. The smokiness in a Lapsang tends to give it a scratchy sensation but not here, thankfully!
I added a bit of agave(maybe 1/2 tspn) this time around and it’s really picked up on the sweet note. I’m getting alot more marshmallow now.
Too bad I have a headache blooming. Maybe time for a chammy after this!

Bonnie

I LOVE a good Lapsang Souchong and my local tea house has a good one too. My grandkids call it The Memory Tea because it reminds them of when they lived in California in the Redwoods…the smell of woodfires in the morning…and camping. I love to drink it and look outside in the Winter at the snow. (I like it anytime really) I have a version called Lion and Lamb that has popped Jasmine Flowers…like popcorn and this mellows the smokiness a little. Glad you like this brand!!! I love some of The Spice and Tea Exchange tea blends!

Indigobloom

the memory tea, ahhh what a great name!! I usually call it campfire tea, since I very rarely get to go camping, and I didn’t go as a child haha.
Your grandchildren are lucky to have those memories :)
Sounds like you got a shipment from STE, what else was in your package?

Indigobloom

and popping jasmine tea, I’ve never heard of that, neato!!!!

Bonnie

Coconut Oolong, Strawberry Chocolate Puerh!!! Dessert at my house!!!! Actually my son is coming for Pascha (Easter) and lives by a STE in San Francisco (Pier 39) so I’m having him bring me STUFF and things from Chinatown (Gaiwan) which are inexpensive there.

Bonnie

Oh the Jasmine…Yep dry and fluffy like popcorn…really good! I was in Happy Luckys yesterday sharing some Puerh with the guys there and they gave me some (4oz sample) of this Lion and Lamb Lapsang Souchong with the Jasmine in it…I keep picking out the dry bits…not good…but it’s so delicious dry!

Indigobloom

Exciting!! to think you are so near an STE, I am just a tad jealous :P
I can imagine they would be quite tasty. Mmmm, reminds me of our popcorn supply downstairs!

Bonnie

SO NEAR …San Francisco is near to Fort Collins Colorado?!

Indigobloom

oh right my head is not here! lol
I have a headache… the only reason I can think my fingers would type such silliness :P

Bonnie

You’re still a cool chick! Hope you feel betah! Caffeine helps my migraines.

Indigobloom

heh thanks Bonnie <3
I do feel loads better after taking some meds… and a nap!

Scott B

I’m looking for a new Lapsang this year-maybe I’ll check this one out.

Indigobloom

I recommend it highly! my favourite is the second and fourth steeping. I’ve yet to make it to five.

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82
676 tasting notes

Thank you Indigobloom for this sample!

I’ve been a bit unwell (I’ll get to that at the finish) so I decided to SMOKE it out of me! Teach that ol allergic reaction a lession I will! Ya’ll know I love me some Lapsang Souchong! With this sample I went past the recommended steep time by 1 minute because I like my tea full bodied. Um, smelled nice and smoky but not in a room filled with smoke sort of way. In other words, no one was going to call the Fire Department.

The golden brown liquor looked just right when I took my first gulp, hum, which was milder and sweeter than I was expecting. I’ve been drinking a bold and salty Lapsang Souchong with a slightly burnt edge for some time but this was different. This one was smooth and mild with far less salt, and with tannin at the finish creating juiciness.

I added sweetening (I know that Indigobloom does this too) and cream which created a nicely balanced morning cup of smoked, buttery sweet tea. Perfect pairing would be toast and jam or sweet bagels.

FYI
Just a note for anyone with food allergies (like me)…Rooibos is in the legume family which I found out by getting a reaction…arf…so you should avoid it! Who knew! Made my throat and mouth all scratchy and sore and swollen and I felt awful…could have been worse!

ashmanra

Oh my! Thanks for sharing the warning. I will pass it on.

Azzrian

Oh so sorry :( Hope you get better soon!

ScottTeaMan

Get well Bonnie.

Bonnie

I’m ok now…just took a couple of days to research and get out of my system! I smoked it out this morning. My daughter will be delighted to receive some Rooibos from me! (I didn’t have much to tell the truth which is why this has not happened before…I had several samples in a row which is what did the awful!)

LiberTEAS

Wow… interesting information! I did not know that about Rooibos!

Indigobloom

Glad you’re feeling better Bonnie! I don’t know anyone with a nightshade allergy but I will keep it in mind for sure :)

Kittenna

Odd, nightshade plants (solanaceae) are tomatoes/peppers/eggplants, not beans (legumes, fabaceae), which I do see rooibos is associated with. Are you allergic to beans? Because if not, I wonder if there wasn’t a different ingredient lurking in a tea you had that you are having a reaction to. Lapacho appears to be another plant entirely, and appears to have significantly more questionable effects, and you had some of that, didn’t you?

Bonnie

You are correct. I removed the incorrect info. I have nightshade and bean allergies so Rooibos is a legume and made me sick (but is not nightshade). People with fibromyalgia are often sensitive to both as well as chocolate, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, smiles and good times. (ok a joke there at the end)

Kittenna

Ahh, that would make sense then, if you drank tea with rooibos. I’m glad you’ve mentioned its plant family – I think you may have enlightened a lot of people!

And at least on Steepster, it seems like you’re a provider of smiles and good times :P

Indigobloom

You both make me smile!! :)

Bonnie

I have succumbed to teamentia!!

SimpliciTEA

Interesting!

Although I haven’t heard of nightshade, I have heard fibromyalgia, as I have a friend who has it. Rooibos is a legume? Very interesting.

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66
6112 tasting notes

Ok… being brave tonight! Trying my first straight lapsang souchong, courtesy of Indigobloom!

I do love campfire, and smoked meat, so this tea does smell quite good. I just can’t shake the desire to eat a large piece of beef jerky .

Oh man. So smoky. SO SMOKY. Shocker, eh? Ooh, this may not be the best tea to mix with others, as the smoky flavour is lingering in my mouth. It’s pretty smooth… no astringency. Really tastes like liquid smoke in a cup. It’s not actually as strong as I was thinking it could be. I kind of like it. However, I think it’s better blended with other things… brings out the maple syrup Let’s see what this does!

OK! Added way too much. But… I like it! If I add salt will it taste like maple bacon?? Hmm, not sure I want to possibly ruin it. I like it sweet and smoky.

I think lapsang souchong will be a tea for me to mix with others for kicks, not to drink straight. This one’s perfectly drinkable, but I think adding smoky notes to other chocolate teas will be much more fun.

Thanks again for the sample, Indigobloom!

ETA: Second infusion is weaker, but I dosed it with maple syrup anyhow. I suspect the smokiness of this one could last a long time, so I think I’ll stop at two infusions. Or maybe three.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Bonnie

You got the right idea. I was talking with my tea shop guy and he told me that Lapsang Souchongs are smoked over different woods. Pine, hickory, misquite etc. which would give different smokey flavors. Interesting. I have had a mix with Earl Grey and one with dried Jasmine Flowers and orange peel that was really good.

Kittenna

Well I’m definitely taking a page out of your book with the lapsang blending, Bonnie! You seem to have excellent ideas about different combinations! And now I have a bit to play with and add to things – need to go read your tasting notes to find out what all you said that I’ve forgotten :D :D

Bonnie

Just start with a small pinch because you can always add more if it isn’t enough. Smoke in a floral tea is nice, in Earl Grey is good. If you have Maple like Oh Canada go with a pinch of hickory or applewood salt if you have it but just a very little bit and a pinch of Lapsang Souchong. That’s about all I do.

Indigobloom

hehe glad you like it! I think this is one of my faves. The base is really sweet, unlike some other lapsangs.

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98
262 tasting notes

After sweet black teas, I believe my next favorite category is smoky black teas. I’ve tried a few Lapsang Souchong teas in the past and liked them all. I was looking forward to trying The Spice and Tea Exchange’s (TSTE) entry in this arena. Their black chocolate tea showed me that they know how to load a tea with flavor.

As I opened the zip-lock pouch of thin black tea leaves, my nostrils were instantly slapped soundly by a potent campfire aroma. It was a deep rich odor that almost smelled like burning hickory wood.

I brewed the leaves at 212 degrees for four minutes (my choice as TSTE does not include steeping instructions). The finished liquor was a deep amber color. A strong smoky smell that reminded me of my Boy Scout campout days erupted from the tea pot and filled my kitchen.

The initial sip shot strong smoky signals to my taste buds at the speed of light. Although quite potent, the taste was also smooth and complete. The smoky flavor of this tea was so well defined and complex that I kept trying to identify the components that comprised it. (I’m still leaning toward hickory wood.) There was no bitterness whatsoever. The flavor of each sip was as full and detailed as the one before. The aftertaste delightfully echoed the great flavor. The black tea taste took a backseat as it usually does with good smoky teas.

This is a fantastic Lapsang Souchong tea with all of the elements that you would want in this blend and more. I will be reaching for this selection in the morning again soon. TSTE’s teas are pricey but I don’t feel cheated.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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90
41 tasting notes

This was my first experience with a Lapsang Souchong and I fell head over heels with the warm and deep smokey aroma. I could just sit and inhale this all day long (but then people would stare and my tea would get cold…)

I’ve dubbed this my favorite black tea so far and I personally enjoy this one over Adagio’s Lapsang Souchong.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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85
3 tasting notes

This is one of my new favorite teas. It’s the first Lapsang Souchong that I’ve tried so I can’t really compare it to any others, but this tea is perfect for me in the office. The smokiness reminds me of campfire smoke and latakia tobacco. It’s the closest thing I can get to being outdoors while still being stuck in the office.

When I first tried it, I was surprised by the intensity of the smokiness. I actually didn’t care for the first cup I made of it. I gave it another try a couple days later because the smell of it was so intriguing. I’m glad I did. Either the smoke flavor mellowed out after I opened the package or I knew what to expect so it wasn’t as overwhelming, but I enjoyed this tea immensely after the first time I tried it. I regularly grab for this one for a break during the day at the office now. I think it would be great to have outside while actually sitting around a campfire…

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80
973 tasting notes

This was my first experience with Lapsang Souchong! I’m not a huge fan of smoke flavor in food or beverages, so the strong smoky flavor of this tea wasn’t my favorite. However, it definitely seems like a high quality tea. The leaves are large and unbroken and have a lovely sweet/smoky scent. And although the flavor was too smoky for my tastes, the tea was nice and smooth with no bitterness or astringency. With a splash of milk to calm down the smoke, I found this a pleasant breakfast tea.

Flavors: Smoke, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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81
1 tasting notes

I have been drinking this all day. As I am new to tea, I have many questions. Am I making it right (195 degrees, 5 minute steep)? It tastes good, not as smokey as others I have had in bags in the past, yet certainly more complex in flavor. I’d certainly buy it again, even more so if the stores wasn’t over an hour away, with what can be difficult parking. Any who…I like it, it makes me happy, and the taste lingers on my taste buds, in a smokey, happy, charming sort of way/

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 40 OZ / 1182 ML

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