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“The ratings on this are all over the place. I rather liked it. I actually got three steeps out of the bag. The first made me think bacon. The second was pulled pork. The third was lighter but still...” Read full tasting note
“Twinings sample bag. First LS I have ever had in a bag. I was surprised. It is not terrible. Not a very strong LS though. But,I would actually purchase some of this to have on hand for a quick tea...” Read full tasting note
“I usually LOVE me some Lapsang Souchong. But this one is just pure gross. I won’t mention what it reminds me of… I don’t want to ruin anyone’s tea appetite. I think I might not even finish this...” Read full tasting note
“There are days when you need comfort food….well like comfort food sometimes you need comfort tea. In my opinion there are none better than Lapsang Souchong. Ahhh!! Happiness.” Read full tasting note
Lapsang Souchong, also referred to as smoked tea, is one of the worlds’ oldest and most distinctive black teas. The tea is grown in the Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian Province of China and is made by only a select number of estates. Once a very secretive process, Lapsang Souchong is prepared using the same manual techniques today that have been passed down from generation to generation. After the tea is plucked, the leaves are withered over cypress or pine wood fires. They are later placed into barrels so that the smoky aroma intensifies. As a final step, the leaves are placed into flat wicker baskets and positioned on bamboo trays over smoky pine fires, where they dry and absorb even more aroma. The finished tea leaves are thick and black and when steeped in hot water, produce a rich tea with a unique, smoky taste.
To savour the full flavour of our teas, bring water to boil, and pour over the tea as soon as it reaches boiling. Over-boiling will cause oxygen to be reduced, making the tea taste “flat”. Brew 3 minutes or to desired taste.
*We do not recommend using a microwave to boil your cup of water.
Ingredients: Fine black tea expertly selected from the Fujian province, China
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I made a pot of this, and while it’s not my favorite LS, it’s decent. There’s a lot of smokey flavor, so much so that the base tea is almost hidden. What I could make out had a sweetness to it. It makes me understand why some people equate this to barbecue or barbecue sauce. I decided to add some sugar to my cup, and I enjoyed the smokey sweetness and smoothness of this tea.
This isn’t my first choice for a Lapsang Souchong, so I doubt I purchase it again. If I’m ever offered a cup I won’t say no. As with so many smokey teas, this would probably be at its best during the fall/winter months when the idea of sitting in front of a fire is most appealing. But whatever, I drink what I like. ;)
Flavors: Smoke, Sweet
I re-purchased this tea a few weeks ago, not remembering if I liked it or not. And I do. It’s very smoky, “meaty,” and campfire-esq. It would be a great tea for a winter afternoon or while camping.
It’s smoky and delightful.I shared a cup with my Dad, who said that it was “no different than eating burning firewood.” So, yes, it’s an acquired taste.
It took me a few sips to finally decide whether or not it’s right for me, and I’ve decided that it’s a grand tea. I will be buying more from Twinings and other places.
(Side Note: It’s too strong on its own, but I really like it with a dash of cream and a teaspoon of sugar.)
Any suggestions on where I could find a quality Lapsang from, other than Twinings?
Flavors: Campfire, Smoke
I also got this as part of a Twinings sample thing. Meh.
First impressions: Smells like fake smoke and leather. There’s also something that’s vaguely reminding me of the beach, but I can’t put my finger on it. And I just brought it out to my desk at work and everyone’s going to hate me when they walk by because the smell is so strong. Oh, well.
It tastes pretty much how it smells. I’m not a fan. This is the first lapsang souchong I’ve ever tasted, though. I’m sure there are better ones out there. At least I didn’t pay for this one.
Edit: I only managed two sips and had to throw it out. The smell is too much. And now I can’t get the smell off of my hands. Ugh.
Flavors: Leather, Smoke
This is a sample I received from Twinings. I’ve seen comments and notes on here about the smoky Lapsang Souchong tea and have been wanting to try it for a while. Twinings seems to be hit or miss for me – some of their teas are favorites and others I could do without. So I don’t know if Twinings is the best place to start for this one, but here we are.
I could smell the smoky aroma coming from this tea before I even opened the bag. The fragrance is reminiscent of beef jerky or those dried bacon bits you might find nestled into a salad bar. The more I smell it, the more I love it. It’s quite intriguing.
As it steeps, I’m noticing more of the tea but still a deep, lingering smokiness – a campfire burning at dusk. It’s very strong to taste, but this probably has something to do with me accidentally measuring 6 ounces of water instead of the recommended 8 ounces. I’m not terribly concerned – I’m loving this. It’s full of character and incredibly different but also so reassuringly familiar.
Flavors: Campfire, Smoke
This is the first Lapsang Souchong I’ve ever purchased and the name itself is a interesting ear-worm. I’m still not familiar on a perfect brew temp so the first time I tried it I did it wrong and put me off. The smell itself was interesting; a nice earthy wood-burning scent that reminds me of smoking meats in a smoker. The first time I tried it was like a punch to the face I brewed it so much that it tasted salty! The second time I did some researched and steeped it for less time and it came out better then expected. This won’t be the last time I’ll try it there are probably better brands out there. Did I mention this makes me fear that the smell of Lapsang Souchong will permeate to my other teas?
This was the first Lapsang Souchong I ever tried and I still keep a box at work in case I’m ever in the mood. I personally find that it smells smokier than it tastes, which is ok because it tastes really smokey! I prefer this tea during the fall or winter. It seems to fit the mood of the cold weather months much better. My 17 year old cousin calls this “the campfire tea”.
I love smoky teas, but this is a little too much like drinking pine tar. It leaves a harsh feeling in my throat and feels like it should be carcinogenic. It’s not a bad bagged smoky tea and I would happily drink this for convenience’s sake, but I’m keeping my eyes peeled for a better bagged lapsang souchong.
