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Lapsang Souchong

NulloModo

By NulloModo
in Coffee & Tea

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NulloModo

NulloModo

Posted
Posted

I have been getting more into tea lately. Today, while trying to kill some time at the mall, I wandered into the Coffee Beanery and discovered they have a nice setup of 'Republic of Tea' teas, which I have heard good things about. Well, most were pretty plain and boring looking, earl grey, green tea, honey and ginger, etc, stuff you can find anywhere. Well, one then caught my eye, a tea called 'Lapsang Souchong' which is apparently fermented and smoked over pine wood according to the blurb on the back. I also had to pick up a tea-ball as this didn't seem to come in bags.

I just had a glass, and my first impression is I really like it. It has a fully, smokey, tangy taste. I added a bit of splenda to it, but I had a few sips without and it was almost as good that way. Has anyone else had this stuff before? Are there other similar teas out there?

He don't mix meat and dairy,

He don't eat humble pie,

So sing a miserere

And hang the bastard high!

- Richard Wilbur and John LaTouche from Candide

Mnehrling

Mnehrling

Posted
Posted

I absolutely love this stuff. Many times people walk in my office when I steep a pot to see if something is burning.

I have learned this makes a wonderful seasoning agent. The last time I brined a turkey, I put about 5 teabags in the liquid and it infused a great smoke flavor. Also add it to steaming liquid.

"Instead of orange juice, I'm going to use the juice from the inside of the orange."- The Brilliant Sandra Lee

http://www.matthewnehrlingmba.com

slkinsey

slkinsey

Posted
Posted

Yes, lapsang souchong is a really cool tea. The cheaper versions can be a little harsh, but the good stuff can really be something special.

--

iamthestretch

iamthestretch

Posted
Posted

Makes a good rub, too. There's a Ming Tsai recipe for short ribs braised in riesling that I've made a few times using Lapsang Souchon to great acclaim.

"Mine goes off like a rocket." -- Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, Feb. 16.

"T"

"T"

Posted
Posted

Be careful not to consume too much as it is carcinogenic.

But so is walking in downtown during rush hour.

What's a brutha to do?

Drink up. :cool:

slowfood/slowwine

NulloModo

NulloModo

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
Be careful not to consume too much as it is carcinogenic.

But so is walking in downtown during rush hour.

What's a brutha to do?

Drink up.  :cool:

Eh, I live in Delaware, so, if I get cancer (which I have a pretty high chance of if I stay here the rest of my life, which I don't plan to) it will be thanks to DuPont or one of the other dozens of major chemical companies here. I tend not to worry about risks like that in food, and hey, this tea tastes a hell of a lot better than teflon.

He don't mix meat and dairy,

He don't eat humble pie,

So sing a miserere

And hang the bastard high!

- Richard Wilbur and John LaTouche from Candide

appreciator

appreciator

Posted
Posted
Be careful not to consume too much as it is carcinogenic.

And this would be because :huh: ......... the smoky quality perhaps?

Or am I just taking things too seriously again? :wacko:

sarah

Always take a good look at what you're about to eat. It's not so important to know what it is, but it's critical to know what it was. --Unknown

jpr54_

jpr54_

Posted
Posted

I also had to pick up a tea-ball as this didn't seem to come in bags.

I just had a glass, and my first impression is I really like it. It has a fully, smokey, tangy taste. I added a bit of splenda to it, but I had a few sips without and it was almost as good that way. Has anyone else had this stuff before? Are there other similar teas out there?

"T"

"T"

Posted
Posted
Be careful not to consume too much as it is carcinogenic.

And this would be because :huh: ......... the smoky quality perhaps?

Or am I just taking things too seriously again? :wacko:

Similar to smoked meats, you shouldn't consume too much of those products either.

If you enjoy it though a cup of Lapsang in moderation is fine.

slowfood/slowwine

wkl

wkl

Posted
Posted

Nullo,

Maybe you already know of Upton Teas, but if not check out their site.

www.uptonteas.com.Awesome selection of loose teas.Yes they have Lapsong Suchong too.

A good way to start out is to order a few sample packs of different teas that interest you.

cdh

cdh

Posted
Posted

Lapsangs are really nice teas. They do, however, vary widely.

From their name, they should be fairly large whole leaves if the tea is being true to style-- "souchong" means that. Often they aren't. But it can be fun trying to figure out what the base tea under there is.

Also the smoke can vary. Traditionally they were smoked over evergreens, giving them a resiny tang. Some LS out there tastes hardwood smoked, which, again is a nice change.

You could probably line up 5 or 6 lapsangs for a side by side and taste for the differences. Could be a fun exercise in palate building.

I happen to like the LS that Jacksons of Picadilly sells... or sold... mine is probably 10 years old... no telling if it is consistent over time. But the one I've got seems to be a broken leaf indian or ceylon, with some hardwood smoke to it. Contrary to style, but still good.

Christopher D. Holst aka "cdh"

Learn to brew beer with my eGCI course

Chris Holst, Attorney-at-Lunch

johnnyd

johnnyd

Posted
Posted

This is my favourite tea. I ordered it at a tea house in Montreux once and it was served VERY strong with about a 1:1 cream and buttloads of demerara.

I don't drink it any other way now.

"I took the habit of asking Pierre to bring me whatever looks good today and he would bring out the most wonderful things," - bleudauvergne

foodblogs: Dining Downeast I - Dining Downeast II

Portland Food Map.com

fou de Bassan

fou de Bassan

Posted
Posted

I love lapsang souchong. Now, this may be tea heresy but, I like to mix LS with earl grey. I like the combination of tastes.

If only Jack Nicholson could have narrated my dinner, it would have been perfect.

naguere

naguere

Posted
Posted

lapsang souchong;

A tea for grownups.

like bitter beer the taste needs to be aquired. The flavour comes from bergamot, an orange flavoured herb.

I take a cup every month or so, it is to be savoured.

Martial.2,500 Years ago:

If pale beans bubble for you in a red earthenware pot, you can often decline the dinners of sumptuous hosts.

cdh

cdh

Posted
Posted
lapsang souchong;

A tea for grownups.

like bitter beer the taste needs to be aquired. The flavour comes from bergamot, an orange flavoured herb.

Ummmmm... no.

Lapsang Souchong has nothing to do with bergamot (which, btw, is a citrus fruit). Lapsang is smoked tea. (Earl Gray is the bergamot tea.)

Definitely a tea for grownups.

Christopher D. Holst aka "cdh"

Learn to brew beer with my eGCI course

Chris Holst, Attorney-at-Lunch

ghostrider

ghostrider

Posted
Posted

I drank Lapsangs for a couple of decades. Then they just got boring.

These days I'm focused on Assams & Ceylons & the occasional Nepal.

I wouldn't mention this in this thread, but the "tea for grownups" comments make me think that I've entered the next phase of life. "Tea for geezers" anyone? :raz:

Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea!

- Sydney Smith, English clergyman & essayist, 1771-1845

andiesenji

andiesenji

Posted
Posted
I drank Lapsangs for a couple of decades.  Then they just got boring.

These days I'm focused on Assams & Ceylons & the occasional Nepal.

I wouldn't mention this in this thread, but the "tea for grownups" comments make me think that I've entered the next phase of life.  "Tea for geezers" anyone?  :raz:

Sounds like I might be a candidate - my current fascination are the Nilgiri teas.

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!" Terry Pratchett

 

  • 7 months later...
jokhm

jokhm

Posted
Posted

Hmm.. I do sell Lapsang Souchong, but whenever I've had to go through some sampling sessions I always partially gag! It is funny though. When I first settled here in Beijing I had to really push people in the tea business to produce some. No one had anything to do with LS. I suppose this has a lot to do with all the different preferences common in each area of China. Some places prefer very specific tastes. Here in the north it happens to be flower teas; also not quite my thing although they have their place and time.

Anyhow.. perhaps the smokiness puts several other smoked meat images in my mind.. and distracts from the tea. Maybe I'm just addicted to too many other oolongs at the moment. I'll wait for it to wear off and then try some LS again.

Joel

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