I hope you’ll bear with me as I do something a little different with tonight’s post.
As a subscriber to the Steepster Select program, I receive a box with three different teas. Each month there is a different theme. This month’s theme is “The Big Chill.” The box also includes a postcard size card that offers some insight on the theme, as well as the teas that are chosen.
Here is the description of The Big Chill:
For when winter seeps into the bones and dull skies numb the spirit, we have just the teas to warm you through and through.
A smokey black tea, fire crackling at your feet.
A chai with warming spices, heat spreading from sip to fingertips.
A peppermint-blended green tea, the remembrance of holidays past.Seasons greetings from Steepster.
This month, I have already reviewed the smoky black tea and the chai with warming spices, but have not yet reviewed the peppermint-blended green tea. That’s because I already reviewed this tea back in November, and since it was such a short time ago, I didn’t feel the need to review it once again. My thoughts on this tea haven’t changed: it still tastes crisp and minty and refreshing. However, I didn’t want to let January close without having mentioned the third tea.
The teas that were chosen for this month’s Steepster Select were all wonderful teas and were perfect for the chosen theme. The smoky tones of the Lapsang Souchong evokes thoughts of a warm, cozy fire roaring in the fireplace. The spices in the chai warmed me from the inside out, helping me to stave off winter’s cold. And this delicious Moroccan Mint from Earthbound Tea is cool and sweet, reflective of the crisp chill in the air.
I can’t wait to discover what next month’s Steepster Select has in store!
Lapsang Souchong from Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden
About This Tea:
The story goes that Lapsang Souchong was first created when the Wuyi region’s annual tea drying process was interrupted by army movement. To compensate for the missed drying period, tea farmers hung their tea over pinewood fires, consequently imparting a distinctive smoky flavor and aroma. Our Lapsang Souchong is sourced by Mark Ukra, co-owner of Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden, who comes from a family of Middle Eastern tea merchants dating back 400 years. Drink Lapsang Souchong plain or try it as a spice or rub for cooking.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
January’s Steepster Select box brought teas that to help warm us up from Winter’s Chill. The first tea that I tried from the box was this Lapsang Souchong, which is a little unusual for me since it’s one of my least favorite teas (well, not this Lapsang Souchong, but Lapsang Souchong in general is one of my least favorite teas).
But this is no ordinary Lapsang Souchong. This is easily the best that I’ve ever tried. Now, I can’t say that I’ve tried a lot of Lapsang Souchong teas, as it is one of those teas that I tend to avoid, but I have tried a few, and I’ve even managed to – slowly – get my palate more accustomed to the unique flavor experience of Lapsang Souchong. While I am slowly gaining an appreciation for this strong, smoky tea, it is still sometimes difficult for me to get past it.
This Lapsang Souchong from Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden has been a real eye-opening experience for me. I am not just “appreciating” this tea … I’m LOVING it!
The first couple of sips are quite smoky. But once I get past those first sips, I find wonderful flavors await me. I can actually taste the pine here, and that is something that I didn’t really experience in previous Lapsang Souchong tastings. I may have tasted mere hints of pine in the distance, but, mostly what I tasted was smoke and the caramel undertone. Here, the pine is quite distinct and it is lovely.
The caramel undertones are there as well, giving a very pleasant sweetness to the smoky overtones. But what I find especially enjoyable is the way that the caramel undertones meld with the pine notes. The flavors here are deep and intriguing.
A very unique Lapsang Souchong, and I have Steepster Select for bringing it to me!
Lapsang Souchong Tea from Culinary Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where To Buy: Culinary Teas
Product Description:
A superior leaf Lapsang Souchong offering a smooth, crisp, and heady aroma of an oak wood fire. A popular and certainly unique black tea.
Taster’s Review:
I have never been fond of Lapsang Souchong. There was a time when I couldn’t even have it in my house because the smell repulsed me so. Since that time, I have come around and gained some appreciation for this tea. It will probably never become a favorite tea of mine, but, I have come to a point where I can sip on a cup every once in a while and actually enjoy it.
This is a strong Lapsang Souchong. The dry leaf is very dark, and there is a deep smokiness to the aroma. Some might liken it to a campfire scent, but, I can’t recall the fires at camp smelling like this. This smells like it’s been slowly smoked over oak.
That slow-smoked essence translates into the flavor. It has a very deep, smoky taste. I agree with the above description – it does have a certain crispness to the taste, as well as a smoothness that I didn’t expect. With such a smoky essence, I might have expected more of a rustic feel to it; however, this one is more of a sophisticated smoky taste with its smooth character.
Beneath the smoky notes, I taste subtle notes of oak and even the faintest hint of dark cocoa. It’s really quite nice. I can also detect a lovely caramel-like sweetness. The discovery of the caramel-y undertones in a Lapsang Souchong has been its saving grace for me, because I actually really like the combination of the smoke and the caramel.
This Lapsang Souchong from Culinary Teas is a top-notch Lapsang Souchong, with a beautiful complexity just below its smoky surface. I am glad that I have been able to come to gain some appreciation for Lapsang Souchong tea, otherwise I may have offered this one to someone else without giving it a taste – and I would have missed out on all this fabulous flavor.
My first cup of this tea I first tasted with no additions and decided it needed a little bit of turbinado sugar to help bring out those caramel undertones. For my second cup, I decided to try it as a latte, and it really is good. The milk subdues the smokiness and plays to the caramel sweetness – giving it a creaminess. It’s wonderful!
LiberTEAS Tomato, Basil & Black Pepper from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
When our good friend, LiberTEAs asked us to create this blend, I have to admit that I tabled the idea for a few days, thinking she would forget about it. We’ve created some unusual blends, but tomato, basil and black pepper? Really?
Well, she didn’t forget about it and though it took me a while, here we are.
We’ve blended our premium Indian black teas with just a tiny touch of lapsang souchoung, sun-dried tomatoes, black peppercorns, basil and natural flavors.
Taster’s Review:
How cool is this? Frank (the Chief Zoomdweebie at 52Teas) created this blend for me. And, as weird as the combination may sound to you, it actually tastes amazing.
When I originally requested this blend, I requested it as a green tea. My thought was “tomato salad in a teacup” – but then, when Frank contacted me, he suggested making it a black tea and adding just a touch of Lapsang Souchong (which is NOT a favorite tea of mine) to the blend for a smoky note. My first reaction was “eww, no” because that is my reaction when it comes to Lapsang Souchong. But, after thinking about it for a few minutes, I thought that as long as the Lapsang Souchong was added at just the right amount, the smoky note would be very complimentary to the flavors of tomato, basil and black pepper. So, I decided that the black tea would be a better choice… and now I have the most delicious “tomato soup in a teacup.”
The black tea base does not overwhelm here. One taster of this tea stated that the Lapsang Souchong overpowers the flavors of black pepper and basil, but, I don’t think this is true. I steeped my cup for just 2 1/2 minutes, added a pinch of sea salt (because you’ve gotta salt your tomatoes!) and the flavors are all represented well in the taste. And I must admit that the Lapsang Souchong does add a pleasing smoky note to the cup.
But you’re probably still thinking to yourself … what on earth possessed this person to request a tomato flavored tea? Am I right? Well, tomato is my favorite fruit. Yes, I know that it is used more like a vegetable than a fruit, but it is still – technically – a fruit. And I love tomatoes. Especially those just picked, sun-ripened, grown in the backyard tomatoes. YUM!
The tomato here is the strongest flavor. It doesn’t taste quite like the aforementioned fresh tomato, instead, it tastes like a cross between a fire-roasted tomato and a sun-dried tomato. But that’s OK, because I happen to love them too. And the flavor is so vibrant! The basil is quite a bit softer, but it lends a fresh note to the cup, and the pepper adds a kick of spice.
Together these flavors make up a delicious tea that, when paired with some crackers, make for a light and yummy lunch! THIS is the way tomato soup should taste!
A Nice Cup of Shut the Hell Up (Signature Blend) from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Product Description:
Very biting tea smoothed over with a caramel smile. Great to wake up to, especially if you are dropping the coffee habit. Great for the early morning attitude enhancement with the added benefit of enabling you to think beofre you speak. Shut the hell up and give it a try.
Created by: Travis Pelt
Taster’s Review:
As some of you may know, I’m not particularly fond of Lapsang Souchong so I generally avoid them whenever possible. I find the strong, smoky character of a typical Lapsang Souchong to be rather off-putting.
However, I am slowly developing an appreciation for strong, smoky teas such as Lapsang Souchong, but, suffice to say that while I am usually willing to try a tea with Lapsang Souchong in it, it is not something I probably would want to try.
But that all went out the window when I saw the name of this signature blend from Adagio Teas (created by Travis Pelt). I knew I had to try it!
And I really am glad I did – this is actually really good. The tea is very strong – ROBUST! But what makes this tea especially good to me is the balance of tastes. It is a smoky tea, but it isn’t too smoky. It is, in fact, one of the most thoughtful blends I have encountered – and by that I mean that the underlying caramel-y notes of the Lapsang Souchong are highlighted with the addition of the caramel flavored black tea. The sweet, creamy notes of the caramel are enhanced by the malty notes of the Assam.
The three types of tea create a very harmonized and yet hefty blend! It is a little chewy and has a nice bake-y taste. It makes a perfect morning tea, but I am actually enjoying it later in the afternoon at the moment – it is the perfect accompaniment to Dulce de Leche cookies from the Girl Scouts! YUM!