BBQ tea? I've recently tried a tea that tastes like it came right off the grill. It's called Lapsang Souchong. This is a black tea that is smoked over pine embers in the Fujian province of China. The process of preparing this tea gives it a very distinctive smoky taste that is unlike any other tea I've sampled.
The particular Lapsang Souchong I tried is this one from the Republic of Tea. The taste is bold and flavorful. The first thing I noticed was the strong smoky taste. Lurking "below" or "behind" that taste is the sweet flavor of black tea; somewhat hidden and subtle, but definitely present. Like all teas, this one can best be appreciated slowly and with full awareness.
In his "Manly" Tea List, Bret Wingert at Souvia(tm) likens Lapsang Souchong's taste to "single malt scotch or a fine cigar." That seems about right, but I'm sticking to my description of it as "barbecued tea" because that is what it tastes like. Just as with barbecued food, one can taste the underlying flavor, but he must first get past the smoky taste. However, the man who makes that effort will be rewarded with the flavor of a fine black tea, blanketed in the flavor and aroma of fire. Lapsang souchong is potent, for sure, but also quite pleasant!
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