84 Tasting Notes
I had this sample in my cupboard that I have been saving, and since it is a gray and rainy day here, decided to try it today.
I have never had a Lapsang Souchong tea before, and it certainly does have a smokey smell of pine and peat which carries over to the brewed cup.
The taste is quite smokey in flavor as well and reminds me of campfires made with fresh pine logs, but there is also a sweetness to it.
Very interesting and tasty, and although this wouldn’t be my favorite type of tea, I am happy to have tried it and would have the occasional cup for something different.
Preparation
So far, all the Taiwanese teas I have tried seem to have that distinctive spice note both in taste and aroma. I’m not really sure what it is, but it is very unique, aromatic and flavourful.
This is fragrant, fruity and spicy, but also smooth and creamy with notes of honey, and somehow savory as well. Seems bolder and more full bodied in a way, than the TTC golden dragon tippy black tea I had earlier, but both are similar to me. Delicious!
Preparation
Large curled leaves with a slight golden hue.
Brewed aroma is fruity like apricots and raisins, and has a spice note I first encountered in butiki’s taiwanese wild mountain black, also which carries over into taste.
Very flavorful of spice, fruits and honey. It is very much reminiscent of pumpkin pie, as TastyBrew noted in her review, and so delicious and smooth, especially with added cream. Yum!
Preparation
The first time I made this I used too much leaf and found it somewhat bitter. But when I made it again using less leaf to water ratio and a lower steep temperature, I had a delicious and fragrant peachy green tea without the bitterness of my first attempt. Not a lot of jasmine, perhaps just a hint. Re-steeped perfectly. Lovely and refreshing!
Preparation
Similar to laoshan black with a dark chocolate, roasty aroma, but there is also a more earthy note and a hint of smokiness to this one.
Flavor is chocolate, malt, sweet potato, honey, some floral and a bit of mushroom earthiness. Second steep becomes stronger in honey aroma and tastes sweeter and creamier.
This is so good!! It is similar to the laoshan black, but in a lighter, less toasty way, and has more of the earthy potato notes with honey that I love. Both are delicious and I’m not sure I could pick a favorite.. but perhaps it would be this one simply because I happen to be drinking it right now. Love it!
Preparation
I wish the smokiness wasn’t there, that was the only thing preventing me from loving this one. At least I have LB. :)
That’s too bad, but at least the LB is always a great tea to have!
Stranger still, the last two times I’ve had this there’s been no smoke…. So it seems to be bouncing back and forth for me…
haha It’s such a light hint so maybe that’s why? It was more so in the first infusion if I recall…and either way, is such a tasty tea! Perfect for huffalumps as well, I heard. ;-)
haha hefflumps love smokey teas. it’s true :)
I knew it! :)
Drinking a small pot of this today. Smooth, mellow with earthy sweet potatoes and a bit of caramel.
The last time I drank this I got some citrus notes which I don’t get now; this is more lightly earthy… still really good and easy to drink, and I like it.
Steeped at 190F for 2 1/2 minutes.
Preparation
So maybe it is me and my lack of patience right now but it is next to impossible to post tasting notes since the update, when using my tablet. Posting this one was really!hard to do!!
I used to do quick updates from my phone, but it’s become pretty much impossible after the update, so I totally get this.
Thanks. I don’t think I’ll try again on the tablet – it was a test of patience that’s for sure, and even then, couldn’t add in the steep times etc.
I do a lot of zooming, and making notes in the tasting note itself. I did that before the update as well, but I’m finding it harder to do. :/
I did that before as well, but for some reason am unable to scroll to the bottom of the note or do any kind of controlled zooming now. It must be my tablet not cooperating with the new format. Also, when I posted the note it went to the black ‘put the kettle on’ page, but fortunately the note had posted when I went back to my dashboard. Hopefully the kinks will get worked out eventually though!
Just went to my laptop to see if I could add in the steeping parameters, and yes, much easier!
Interesting. I have an ipad/iphone, and can still zoom and scroll.
Mine is android so maybe that’s different? Or maybe my fingers just didn’t have the right touch today. ;-)
Probably the difference between android and ithing :)
haha – I think so! : )
My second tea to try from Butiki, thanks to the lovely swap package from Courtney!
This is the one I have been waiting for! Wow, this is really unique and delicious!
The aroma is fragrant and rich with caramel and spice. The taste is so sweet, rich and smooth, with notes of the spices and caramel combined with dark honey and fruit. It’s almost like eating a bakery product – so good!!
Thank you Courtney for sharing this delicious tea!
Preparation
Wow, this sounds delicious!
this is one of those special teas…
Clearly!
YES!
haha, it’s a special one for sure!
Sil – I just noticed you have a different picture of a little elephant – cute!
gasp it’s a HEFFALUMP! not an elephant…
…you just might be a woozle…it’s very confuzzle..
LOL!!
Drinking this today, as had Teavivre’s Organic Superfine Keemun yesterday.
Dry leaf is darker and glossy as described, and is also finer and more compact than the superfine leaf. Brewed aroma of malt with floral and some smoke. Tastes sweet and lightly malty with cocoa notes and a hint of smokiness. Quite delicious.
In comparison to the superfine version, this one seems bolder somehow in that it is less sweet and floral with more smoke and cocoa. I still have a serving of each so will try them both again another day in a side by side comparison. I enjoyed both very much but think I may have preferred yesterdays cup a bit better.. will try again though.
Preparation
Great job Caile! I look forward to your side by side comparison.
Smoky cocoa = delicious!
Thanks! I’m curious as well to see how I’ll find them. I just looked at the teavivre site and there is a price difference with the organic superfine being more.. As well, this one says it has moderate caffeine and the superfine has low caffeine – I wonder why that is?
Yes, the Premium Keemun is a tasty way to start your day & a good value too.
I’m hoping to get to a comparison on sunday since i think 4? or 5 of teavivres are in my house at the moment heh
Oh good! I have been hoping to see your reviews of these!
I’m glad to see comparisons for these two!
This is so delicious this afternoon!! Smooth and mellow, yet so rich, sweet and full of flavor. Notes of cocoa and light grains with honey and roses. With cream added, it tastes of buttery pastry – so good!
Preparation
Oh wow – sounds positively amazing!
Agreed! Have you also tasted TeaVivre’s Premium Keemun Hao Ya?
Yes, it was really nice. I have had it before but forgot how good it was – I’ll have to order more!
No, I haven’t tried that one, looseTman. I think I have a sample though!
Just checked – I do have a sample pack of that. Do you prefer it?
So far I’ve enjoyed 1,500g of their Premium Keemun. However, I haven’t yet tasted the Superfine Keemun. I be curious to hear how you think they compare.
lol, I haven’t tried the premium one yet. I’ll have to compare them though!
I’ll keep eye out for your comparison. Thanks!
OK! : )
I had the premium one today, but still have to do a comparison against this one as well! I will be watching for your comparison though
They both seem popular. You’ll have to compare them as well! ;-)
I pretty much feel the same about lapsang souchong. I drink it when I wish I could be camping :) Not an everyday tea by any means.
Yes, it would be a good tea to drink when you wish you could be sitting beside a campfire! :)
I really like LS with bagel cream cheese. I think cream cheese offsets its nicely.
Ooh, that sounds like a good combination! l’ll keep that in mind… I haven’t had a bagel with cream cheese in awhile – yum.
Oh man, now I want a bagel and cream cheese :D
Me too! Adds to shopping list… ; )
I eat it once in a blue moon, but it’s soo good. You can eat it with any cheese no bagel haha. Cheddar is good too.
Love cheddar too, especially aged. I ate the last piece yesterday so will need more of that as well. This morning I ate oatmeal which is always one of my favorites – maybe not so good with this tea as cheese would be. :)
I haven’t had a bagel in years, but I came across a gluten free bagel recipe, which I really need to try out! Of course, I can’t have cream cheese either (dammit), but maybe I could spead some coconut butter on it…or guac :)
Regarding this tea, I enjoy it plain, but it is also especially awesome with a little maple syrup added for an occasional treat!
Coconut butter or avocado both would be good. : )
I was thinking I should have tried this tea with maple syrup but forgot about that while I was drinking it! Next time for sure! One interesting thing was how the aroma of this tea seemed to stay with me all day – probably because it was so new and different to me.
Smoky teas originally freaked me out, LOL. Now I enjoy them
Lol!