Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Deckan Tea
Tea Description:
Green tea from the Nilgiri’s of Southern India. Very rich in anti-oxidants with a smooth, subtle smoky aroma. Only use half a teaspoon per 8 oz cup of water and steep for one minute. Enjoy it plain with a squeeze of lemon drops, hot.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened this package and peeked inside, the tea leaves looked a little bit like a Chun Mee tea as well as a bit of a Gunpowder Green tea. If you were to somehow marry the two tea types, this tea would look like the offspring of the two.
It possesses a smoky aroma, a bit smokier than some Gunpowder green teas I’ve encountered, but it isn’t as smoky as say, a Lapsang Souchong or even a Caravan blend. The smokiness melds with the essence of the green tea leaves in such a way that it comes off as a savory smoke that is really quite enticing. The fragrance of the brewed tea is quite similar, but, it might even be a tad smokier than the dry leaf.
The flavor is incredible. It is smooth and sweet, but also quite savory. In fact, I’d say that the savoriness of this tea outweighs the sweetness, but, the way the two flavor elements meld together is really quite delightful. It tastes like a mild green vegetable that has been smoke-roasted, which brings out the sweetness of the vegetable but at the same time imparts a savory quality that tantalizes the taste buds.
It isn’t what I’d call grassy, though there is some characteristics of this tea that can be considered “grassy.” So to explain my position on it, I’d say that it is more savory than a sweet grass taste, and not at all that bitter green grassy kind of taste. It is an interesting savory grassy taste that is quite unlike anything I’ve tasted before. And I am really liking it.
This is a very different approach to green tea, quite unlike a Chinese green or a Japanese green, and definitely one that I’d recommend to those who like green teas and are looking to expand their horizons a bit.
Keemun Mao Feng from Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Tea Description:
Production Year – 2011
Production Season – Summer
Production Region – Qimen, Anhui Province
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Keemun is among my favorite black (or red) teas. Such a wonderful complexity to Keemun tea – at once it is a deep, smoky tea, but it isn’t too heavy. It is light enough to allow the drinker to experience its delicious fruit notes. It is rich and bold and flavorful, and it has gusto to spare!
This Keemun Mao Feng from Life in Teacup is an excellent tea. It has all the flavor components I mentioned above and more. I love the sweetness to this, it is like a honey caramel and it melds nicely with the smoky tones. The sweetness of the caramel curbs the smoky tones just enough so that they do not taste too harsh, creating a very smooth, well-rounded flavor.
This would make a delicious breakfast tea (0r that all-important first cup of the day), and it has such a pleasant set of fruit tones that it would also make an agreeable afternoon cup. And while I personally prefer a Keemun served straight, with no additions, this Keemun would accept the additions of milk and honey quite well, if you like to take your tea that way!
Unsmoked Lapsang Souchong from Townshend’s Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Townshend’s Tea Company
Tea Description:
From the same region as the smoked version, this handmade tea has a very subtle smokiness resulting from the roasting process. It carries a rich, fulfilling flavor that is less overpowering than its smoked counterpart.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
While recently perusing the Townshend’s Tea Co. website, I came across this tea and was instantly intrigued. I hadn’t actually planned on ordering tea from them, but, when I saw this tea … something in me jumped up and said “I HAVE TO TRY THAT!” And … I’ve got to say that is pretty weird for me to actually WANT to try a Lapsang Souchong, as it is one of my least favorite teas!
But what makes it my least favorite tea is the heavily smoked flavor (and aroma!) of the Lapsang Souchong … and since this one is “unsmoked” … well, this Lapsang Souchong was calling out to me!
And I LOVE this! There are some smoky tones to this … it isn’t completely without smoke. But, it isn’t that heavy, pine-y smoke flavor that is associated with a typical Lapsang Souchong. Instead, the smoky tones here are light and meld beautifully with the other flavors that I am just now discovering of this tea grown in the same region as the smoky Lapsang Souchong.
Luscious fruit tones and even some floral notes are in there, now not hiding behind a smoky veil, and the smoky notes marry with the fruit and floral tones to create a very harmonious taste unlike anything I have ever experienced with a tea. There is very little astringency to this, and no bitterness. It is robust and has a delicious roasted taste to it, which gives it a very hearty vigor.
One thing that this tea is missing (other than the heavy smoke!) is the deep caramel-y undertones that I usually taste with a Lapsang Souchong. I am guessing that is because of the lack of smoke, which probably “caramelized” these deliciously sweet fruity notes into a caramel-y taste. And while I love the flavor of caramel, and it was the discovery of those caramel-y undertones that started me on a path of rediscovering Lapsang Souchong and appreciating this tea a little more than I used to … I definitely prefer Lapsang Souchong without the heavy smoke and caramel.
I really, REALLY like this. A very nice alternative to the usually heavily smoked Lapsang Souchong.
Samovar Tea from Kusmi Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Kusmi Tea
Tea Description:
This tea owes its name to the heated metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water in and around Russia, a classic symbol of daily life in Russia. This tea is a blend of lightly smoked black teas from India and China. Perfect with savory or spicy dishes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The very first time I was given a sample of this tea, I sent it off to a friend without even trying it. All I did was take a quick whiff of it, and the smoky tones were immediately off-putting to me.
That was several years ago.
Since that time, I have been slowly gaining an appreciation for smoky teas, and while I doubt I will ever proclaim them as my favorite “flavored” tea, I find myself enjoying them far more than I ever thought possible back when I was put off by the mere scent of them.
And of the many smoky black teas that I’ve tried since that time and have enjoyed, I think that this one may be one of my favorites. I really like this a whole lot more than I ever thought I would, and now as I am sitting here, enjoying this cup of Samovar Tea from Kusmi, I am regretting sending off that sampling of it way back when.
The dry leaf actually presents a stronger smoky presence than the flavor offers, in my opinion. Sure, I still taste that smoke flavor, but, it mingles with tones of caramel and malt and even a hints of freshly baked bread notes that the smokiness is hardly a detraction. Instead, it becomes part of a unique set of flavors that has me coming back for more.
The flavor is rich and satisfying. There is some astringency to this, and it is quite noticeable, but, I find that it too, adds to the satisfaction of this tea as it cleanses the palate between sips and keeps it from being too overwhelmed by richness – and yes, the smokiness – of this tea.
Overall, a delicious cup of tea. One that I’d not only be happy to enjoy again, but one that I could see myself buying in the future! Given my apprehension about smoky teas … that is saying something!
Smoky Chocolate Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Here’s a decadent and unique treat for tea and chocolate lovers. This is one of six new blends we created for our Box of Chocolate samplers. Lapsang souchong is a unique Chinese black tea that is smoke-dried over pine fires. This gives it a one-of-a-kind smoky flavor. For those who are not familiar with smoked teas, our tea of the week this week is a great introduction since we’ve blended the lapsang with (non-smoked) Nilgiri black tea, organic cacao nibs and natural rich chocolate flavoring. The combination yields a decadent, exotic and comforting cuppa that will leave you craving more.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am not sure what I think about this tea just yet, to be honest. Usually, before I start writing a review, I have a clear idea of how I’ll approach it, but with this tea, I’m not able to do that, because I’ve not yet formed my opinion about the tea. I hope that as I continue to write this review while sipping on the tea, my ideas will come to me. I hope you do not mind me taking you on such a journey!
I usually brew Lapsang Souchong teas in my gaiwan using short steeps, and that’s how I brewed this tea at first. But unfortunately, the short steeps rendered a tea that had very little chocolate flavor because the short steep time did not extract enough flavor from the cacao nibs.
So, I brewed the rest of the sample that I had in this tea in my smart brewer, and hoped that it would turn out better than the previous brewing. I steeped it for 3 minutes using boiling water, and the result is much better: I can taste chocolate now.
But, I also taste a very strong smoky essence from the Lapsang Souchong. I know, I know, that’s supposed to be the idea, right? With a name like Smoky Chocolate, it should be smoky. But I am not so sure about the balance between smoke and chocolate with this. I think I would like it to be a little less smoky and a little more chocolate-y. As it is, the chocolate is delicious, but it’s a little overwhelmed by the smoky notes.
That’s not to say it’s bad. It’s actually good, and the flavor becomes more appealing as I continue to sip. I like that the tea base is a blend of Lapsang Souchong and Nilgiri tea to help cut back on that smoky pine taste just a little. The backdrop of tea flavor is strong and flavorful. I taste hints of pine and an earthiness to the cup, and I find that the earthiness in particular is quite complementary to the flavor of the chocolate.
Is this a favorite from 52Teas? No, but, I did enjoy it, and am glad that I got to try it. I do like how the chocolate and smoke flavors taste together, although I think it would have been better if there was a little less smoke and a little more chocolate. I do find that the chocolate flavors intensify as the tea cools, so if you find with your first few sips of this tea that you want more chocolate taste, just let it cool slightly and I think you’ll discover that chocolate flavor you’re searching for.
This tea is featured in the Box of Chocolates Sampler, and it was the Tea of the Week for the week of February 6, 2012.