Taylors of Harrogate (Lapsang Souchong, 50 Teabags) - Lapsang Souchong, 50 Teabags

I've tried several other brands this tea and none of them are as smokey as this one. Definitely my favorite brand for Lapsong Souchong up to this point in time.

When my usual brand of Lapsang Souchong became unavailable, I reluctantly ordered this brand and have been pleasantly surprised. It has a good, rich flavour and each tea bag is individually wrapped. Although this is not good for the environment, it is beneficial in maintaining freshness. I actually like it better than my original choice and hope it remains available. I find it somewhat overpriced, although the last lot was a bit more reasonable. I use it daily and love it.

This is one of the most unique teas I’ve tried. The easiest comparison I can make is that it’s kind of the scotch whisky of tea. Not because it tastes exactly like whisky, but because it has that same “you either get it or you don’t” quality. If you enjoy bold, smoky, earthy flavors, this tea is fantastic. If you’re expecting a normal black tea, this probably is not the place to start. The smokiness is strong and very campfire-forward. Not sweet BBQ smoke and not quite the peaty medicinal smoke some scotches have either — more like standing near a real wood fire on a cold morning. It cuts through other flavors extremely well, which is actually why I bought it in the first place. I originally purchased it for mocktails, especially whiskey-inspired nonalcoholic drinks where most ingredients tend to lean overly fruity or sweet. This tea adds bitterness, earthiness, and complexity that balances those drinks really well when served cold. It gives mocktails a backbone they often lack. What surprised me though was how much I ended up enjoying it simply as a hot tea on its own. On cooler mornings especially, a cup of this with a little honey really hits the spot. I personally preferred it with manuka honey because the more subtle flavor worked better with the smoke than stronger wildflower honey tends to. I’m definitely more of a casual tea drinker than a tea expert, but the product itself seems high quality. The tea bags felt in line with other premium bagged teas I’ve bought, and the brewing process didn’t seem overly finicky. I just used water slightly below boiling and steeped for several minutes without issue. It stayed smooth and drinkable rather than turning harsh or bitter. It does contain caffeine, though I wouldn’t call it extremely strong. I still keep it as an early-day tea only, which is honestly a little unfortunate because the smoky warmth would make an excellent evening drink if it were caffeine free. This is definitely not going to appeal to everyone, and I think that’s part of the charm. But if you’re adventurous with tea, enjoy smoky whisky, campfire flavors, or want something dramatically different from standard black tea, this is absolutely worth trying.

Great tasting tea, delivered very promptly, I will be back

With these being bags filled with tea powder instead of a true loose leaf tea to unfurl I was extremely pleased at the full and rich authentic flavour and smell of this tea. This is definitely my vote for an in a hurry or pack for an away from home excursion