Following my last post here about tea, I ordered some loose leaf Earl Grey. Several users in that thread had encouraged me to try lapsang souchong, and this shop had that as well, so I added that to my order. While I am fond of smoky-flavored foods (smoked paprika is probably my favorite spice), it is just awful as a beverage...
Oh, what a shame, I really do love it as a tea. You can use it as a mixer with whisky or other brown liquors, though, or use it as a mild form of liquid smoke.
I picked up some with a mix pack of loose leaf tea. I did not like it, it was way too smokey flavor to me. I hate to waste anything and I would have found a use for it. Instead, I gave it to a buddy of mine and it’s now the only tea he likes to drink.
I’m also not an Earl Gray fan, but I do love some Lady Gray!
Seeing that recommended a few times, I guess I should try Lady Grey next time I order teas. I tried a couple other brands of Earl Grey (one bagged, one loose leaf), and I could definitely tell the quality was better than the first brand I had tried, but I still didn't like it much. Definitely better than lapsang souchong, though!
I’m pretty sure Lady Gray is only sold by Twinings. Earl Gray is a little too much bergamot for me, but the Lady has citrus in it that mellows out the strong bergamot flavors. And loose leaf tea is always better IMO and I mostly stick to basic oolong as my daily tea.
There are so many grades of lapsang souchong. Some of them even add artificial flavourings to supplement/in stead of smoking. AFAIK the original chinese version isn't even smoked, historically it's either a 100% made-for-export product, or smoking was a way to make the lower quality leaves into something more interesting, and even then more subtly than the the tarry, campfire-y version we know today.
Point being, once you've tried one souchong, you've tried one souchong. Check what's in the bag, and if you want to try again find a tea store that lets you taste or sniff beforehand. If you want to try a certainly non-smoked version, find jin jun mei; it's a premium grade tea priced accordingly though.
16 Comments
SatyrSack@quokk.au · 13 pts · 255d
Following my last post here about tea, I ordered some loose leaf Earl Grey. Several users in that thread had encouraged me to try lapsang souchong, and this shop had that as well, so I added that to my order. While I am fond of smoky-flavored foods (smoked paprika is probably my favorite spice), it is just awful as a beverage...
TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 255d
Oh, what a shame, I really do love it as a tea. You can use it as a mixer with whisky or other brown liquors, though, or use it as a mild form of liquid smoke.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 255d
You'd hate rauchsbier then
dkppunk@piefed.social · 2 pts · 255d
I picked up some with a mix pack of loose leaf tea. I did not like it, it was way too smokey flavor to me. I hate to waste anything and I would have found a use for it. Instead, I gave it to a buddy of mine and it’s now the only tea he likes to drink.
I’m also not an Earl Gray fan, but I do love some Lady Gray!
SatyrSack@quokk.au · 3 pts · 255d
Seeing that recommended a few times, I guess I should try Lady Grey next time I order teas. I tried a couple other brands of Earl Grey (one bagged, one loose leaf), and I could definitely tell the quality was better than the first brand I had tried, but I still didn't like it much. Definitely better than lapsang souchong, though!
dkppunk@piefed.social · 1 pts · 254d
I’m pretty sure Lady Gray is only sold by Twinings. Earl Gray is a little too much bergamot for me, but the Lady has citrus in it that mellows out the strong bergamot flavors. And loose leaf tea is always better IMO and I mostly stick to basic oolong as my daily tea.
Hope you find some stuff you enjoy.
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 254d
For me, it was similar, but it totally grew on me. It's an acquired taste.
negativenull@piefed.world · 13 pts · 255d
Sorry for steering you wrong. It's my favorite tea.
SatyrSack@quokk.au · 16 pts · 255d
But I don't mind the suggestion. I am on an exploratory journey of black teas, and was bound to come across it eventually!
negativenull@piefed.world · 10 pts · 255d
Fun fact: Lapsang Souchong was one of the tea varieties that were thrown overboard at the Boston Tea Party
acockworkorange@mander.xyz · 12 pts · 255d
unlawfulbooger@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 254d
I’m watching through DS9 for the first time and just watched this episode and absolutely loved it.
Also smokey tea is disgusting, I’d rather eat a plate of fresh Ghagh
archaicpixels@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 255d
Russian Country Tea is black blend with some lapsang in it. Much milder smoke flavor, I love it, but also lapsang straight too.
JoMiran@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 255d
My favorite tea.
persona_non_gravitas@piefed.social · 3 pts · 254d
There are so many grades of lapsang souchong. Some of them even add artificial flavourings to supplement/in stead of smoking. AFAIK the original chinese version isn't even smoked, historically it's either a 100% made-for-export product, or smoking was a way to make the lower quality leaves into something more interesting, and even then more subtly than the the tarry, campfire-y version we know today.
Point being, once you've tried one souchong, you've tried one souchong. Check what's in the bag, and if you want to try again find a tea store that lets you taste or sniff beforehand. If you want to try a certainly non-smoked version, find jin jun mei; it's a premium grade tea priced accordingly though.
Cort@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 254d
Full leaf tea company's Kingston Earl Grey is my favorite.
I take mine with some cream and sugar. I think it tastes kinda like the milk from a bowl of fruit loops.