Hi all,

I just stopped drinking coffee, and have discovered that Lapsang
Souchong is the only tea I've found (so far) that gives me the same
satifaction as coffee for my as-soon-as-I-wake-up drink. I like a
super-strong smoky flavor, so I'd like recommendations for where I can
find this (organic preferred, but flavor is more important) - brand
names, online tea stores, etc - I'm in the US. Brewing tips for
bringing out the strongest possible flavor would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
--
Debbie the Dogged das at spamcop dot net
"Poodles are space aliens who think they've disguised
themselves as dogs." - Paghat the Ratgirl

If you love lapsang souchong.. then you will love Russian Caravan tea (
black tea) . it is relived with a hint of lapsans souchong..
you can order it online http://www.jardinduthe.ca/eng/leafTea/index.htm,



"Debbie the Dogged" wrote in message
.. .
Hi all,

I just stopped drinking coffee, and have discovered that Lapsang
Souchong is the only tea I've found (so far) that gives me the same
satifaction as coffee for my as-soon-as-I-wake-up drink. I like a
super-strong smoky flavor, so I'd like recommendations for where I can
find this (organic preferred, but flavor is more important) - brand
names, online tea stores, etc - I'm in the US. Brewing tips for
bringing out the strongest possible flavor would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
--
Debbie the Dogged das at spamcop dot net
"Poodles are space aliens who think they've disguised
themselves as dogs." - Paghat the Ratgirl

There is no better Lapsang Souchong than Hu-Kwa by Mark Wendell (
http://www.marktwendell.com ) , though I am sure that others sell very
fine Lapsang Souchongs (Lapsangs Souchong perhaps?) for more money. I
am not sure what "organic" would mean in the case of Lapsang Souchong
since it is smoked, and the tarry flavor comes from--well, TAR--and I
rather expect that an extract of the thing would be devilishly bad for
you. This would be much the same as the concentrates of nitrosamines
extracted from bacon. Still, people eat bacon, and drink Lapsang
Souchong, and they all seem to get by somehow. The folks who like
Lapsang Souchong border on a cult they like it so much. Those who do
not--the vast majority apparently--will never understand. Do you also
like single malt Scotch and Balkan Sobranie pipe tobacco/cigarettes?
Lore has it they all go together.

Hi all,

I just stopped drinking coffee, and have discovered that Lapsang
Souchong is the only tea I've found (so far) that gives me the same
satifaction as coffee for my as-soon-as-I-wake-up drink. I like a
super-strong smoky flavor, so I'd like recommendations for where I can
find this (organic preferred, but flavor is more important) - brand
names, online tea stores, etc - I'm in the US. Brewing tips for
bringing out the strongest possible flavor would also be appreciated.
Thanks!

Hi Debbie,
You might also try a cooked Pu'erh. They tend to brew
up dark and full bodied. I think of some of them as
coffee-like in that sense.
Michael

Hi,

As you "like a super-strong smoky flavor", you should try Tarry
Souchong. As far as I know, it is stronger, regarding the smoky flavor,
than the Lapsang Souchong.

Do you also
like single malt Scotch and Balkan
Sobranie pipe tobacco/cigarettes?
Lore has it they all go together.

Yes! Laphroaig and Latakia blend respectively.
Both or either go beautifully with Lapsang.
You can't miss. I love those tarry Lapsangs
that smell of a hot tarry pier with salt
water spume splashing over it while the
fishermen clean their catch. No specific
recommendation, though. My favorite
went out of business.

Michael

Debbie the Dogged wrote:

I just stopped drinking coffee, and have discovered that Lapsang
Souchong is the only tea I've found (so far) that gives me the same
satifaction as coffee for my as-soon-as-I-wake-up drink. I like a
super-strong smoky flavor, so I'd like recommendations for where I can
find this (organic preferred, but flavor is more important) - brand
names, online tea stores, etc - I'm in the US.

If you do business with the big U.S. online vendors Upton and/or
SpecialTeas, they each have some Lapsang Souchongs that their
customers just rave about. From SpecialTeas, it's the LS Superior
that gets the big kudos, but at the moment it is out of stock.
From Upton, it is the super-smoky LS Imperial. They also have
LS Black Dragon which has a devoted following. I have some
samples of the above on my way to me right now.


Randy

Debbie the Dogged wrote:
Hi all,

I just stopped drinking coffee, and have discovered that Lapsang
Souchong is the only tea I've found (so far) that gives me the same
satifaction as coffee for my as-soon-as-I-wake-up drink. I like a
super-strong smoky flavor, so I'd like recommendations for where I can
find this (organic preferred, but flavor is more important) - brand
names, online tea stores, etc - I'm in the US. Brewing tips for
bringing out the strongest possible flavor would also be appreciated.
Thanks!

Good question Debbie. What about online vendors that purport to offer
the genuine article? Are there any of them that are better than
others?

Also, how do people brew it? Like oolong, or with a longer infusion
like pu'er?

Michael Plant wrote:
Do you also
like single malt Scotch and Balkan
Sobranie pipe tobacco/cigarettes?
Lore has it they all go together.

Yes! Laphroaig and Latakia blend respectively.
Both or either go beautifully with Lapsang.
You can't miss. I love those tarry Lapsangs
that smell of a hot tarry pier with salt
water spume splashing over it while the
fishermen clean their catch. No specific
recommendation, though. My favorite
went out of business.

Michael

I love Laphroaig! This makes me think I should give latakia another
chance.

It also brought to mind the practice (which I'm told is becoming
popular in HK, Guangzhou, and Shanghai) of drinking bottled Ito En-type
oolong with Johnnie Walker. Ever tried mixing Laphroaig and Lapsang?

Ever tried mixing Laphroaig and Lapsang?

Now THAT sounds good....

Mike
htttp:/www.pu-erh.net

RJP wrote:
Debbie the Dogged wrote:

I just stopped drinking coffee, and have discovered that Lapsang
Souchong is the only tea I've found (so far) that gives me the same
satifaction as coffee for my as-soon-as-I-wake-up drink. I like a
super-strong smoky flavor, so I'd like recommendations for where I can
find this (organic preferred, but flavor is more important) - brand
names, online tea stores, etc - I'm in the US.

If you do business with the big U.S. online vendors Upton and/or
SpecialTeas, they each have some Lapsang Souchongs that their
customers just rave about. From SpecialTeas, it's the LS Superior
that gets the big kudos, but at the moment it is out of stock.
From Upton, it is the super-smoky LS Imperial. They also have
LS Black Dragon which has a devoted following. I have some
samples of the above on my way to me right now.

To be honest, the two best LS teas I have tried are the Tarry Souchong
from Harrod's, and the LS that is sold by First Colony Coffee and Tea.

The First Colony LS is rebadged by Colonial Williamsburg and sold under
their own label. They charge a good bit for it, but it has a very
clean and almost fruity tea flavour that comes through under the smoke.

I like both of these more then the LS Superior, or the Upton's LS
Imperial although I have not tried the Upton's LS Black Dragon.

The Ten Ren LS, by the way, is best avoided.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Scott Dorsey wrote:

To be honest, the two best LS teas I have tried are the Tarry Souchong
from Harrod's, and the LS that is sold by First Colony Coffee and Tea.
The First Colony LS is rebadged by Colonial Williamsburg and sold under
their own label. They charge a good bit for it, but it has a very
clean and almost fruity tea flavour that comes through under the smoke.

I'm having some difficulty locating on-line sources of these. Could
you post some links? Thanks.


Randy

RJP wrote:
Scott Dorsey wrote:

To be honest, the two best LS teas I have tried are the Tarry Souchong
from Harrod's, and the LS that is sold by First Colony Coffee and Tea.
The First Colony LS is rebadged by Colonial Williamsburg and sold under
their own label. They charge a good bit for it, but it has a very
clean and almost fruity tea flavour that comes through under the smoke.

I'm having some difficulty locating on-line sources of these. Could
you post some links? Thanks.

I have no idea, since I don't even have web access most of the time.
I'd be surprised if Harrod's didn't have some sort of web site, but
I've never tried to buy from them other than at the tea counter.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On 2006-05-02, Scott Dorsey wrote:
To be honest, the two best LS teas I have tried are the Tarry Souchong
from Harrod's, and the LS that is sold by First Colony Coffee and Tea.

I'm very fond of the 'Wuyi lapsang" from Harney and Sons. It's not
suitable for the OP, as the smoke is extremely understated. But wow,
what great tea flavor and mouthfeel! (If I hadn't taken my tin to
work, I'd make some Right Now.)


N.

5/2/06



Michael Plant wrote:
Do you also
like single malt Scotch and Balkan
Sobranie pipe tobacco/cigarettes?
Lore has it they all go together.

Yes! Laphroaig and Latakia blend respectively.
Both or either go beautifully with Lapsang.
You can't miss. I love those tarry Lapsangs
that smell of a hot tarry pier with salt
water spume splashing over it while the
fishermen clean their catch. No specific
recommendation, though. My favorite
went out of business.

Michael

I love Laphroaig! This makes me think I should give latakia another
chance.

Balkin Sobranie used to carry three tins, each with a respectively
higher proportion of Latakia pipe tobacco. The ones with the
greatest percentage of Latakia are a bit more difficult to keep lit.
But the effort is well worth it, IMHO.

It also brought to mind the practice (which I'm told is becoming
popular in HK, Guangzhou, and Shanghai) of drinking bottled Ito En-type
oolong with Johnnie Walker.

This does not speak well for those who perform such abominations.
A careful reading of Dante might reveal their current whereabouts.

Ever tried mixing Laphroaig and Lapsang?

I don't mix well.

Michael