# Lapsang Souchong is Vile **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 19, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956 "2004-10-19T01:47:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/21 "2004-10-19T10:20:11Z")
Lapsang Souchoung is nasty… like snorting charcoal chicken… but if you really want some **Emperor** , your closest supplier of all things tea-related is on Broadway at Granville in Vancouver, a store called T, and their website is [tealeaves.com](http://tealeaves.com) My wife special orders their Imperial Earl Grey (now that’s a fine brew, even if I prefer Ti Kuan Yin Oolong). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/22 "2004-10-19T10:32:18Z")
Hmmm… I have to agree; Lapsang Souchong is nasty; I didn’t even like it when I was a smoker. Earl grey, on the other hand, when properly accompanied by an overly-sweet sticky cake or bun, is _divine_. Takes all sorts, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/23 "2004-10-19T11:49:57Z")
Hey! What did I do this time?! \ Oh. Right. I’ve never had Lapsang Souchoung but I’d be willing to try it. That and Earl Grey with an overly-sweet sticky bun (Or a particularly fluffy chocolate bun) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/24 "2004-10-19T12:01:53Z")
I love Lapsang Souchong, but IMO it is something to be appreciated in moderation, made weak, and sipped from a small cup - treat it like a single malt or an espresso coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/25 "2004-10-19T12:25:48Z")
I wish I’d known there were people who liked this tea. As a serious tea-drinker who’s always looking for new things to try, I bought a small box of Twining’s Lapsang Souchong a couple of years ago. My reaction to the first cup was: “If I scraped some gunk off the floor of the fireplace and put it into boiling water, it would would taste just like this.” I didn’t want the rest of the box after that but, not wanting it to go to waste, I put it in the common kitchen area at work, so that anyone who wanted it could just take it. Those people are scavengers; if you left something unmarked in the kitchen area, it would normally be gone in a day or two. This wasn’t. The box of Lapsang Souchong sat untouched for months, until we finally threw it out when we moved to our new offices last summer. Had I known that there were needy Lapsang-Souchong-drinking Dopers out there, I could have sent it to somebody somewhere who actually liked this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/26 "2004-10-19T12:54:25Z")
Lapsong Souchong is yummy! I got hooked on it when I was in high school and have loved it ever since. I also adore Earl Grey (the “disgusting perfumey” aroma comes the oil of bergamot, a fruit of the citrus family). One tea that I really like I found in Kyoto in the row of shops on the road up to Kiyomizu-dera; it has a blue-green appearance and is made from herbs–but I don’t remember the name and thus can’t find it here in the States. If the OP doesn’t like Lapsang, I recommend he not drink it. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/27 "2004-10-19T13:15:21Z")
Ahhhh… Nothing like a debate over a good cup of tea to ignite the passions of partisanship, eh? **Uvula Donor** , thank you! Email on its way. How many of you have tried South African rooibos herb tea? The brand I’ve tried is [Kalahari Red Tea](http://www.kalahariusa.com/), and it is scrumptious! Very high in antioxidants, no caffeine, a rich, sweet, snooth flavor… what’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/28 "2004-10-19T14:28:09Z")
I love Lapsang Souchong; it’s probably my favorite tea. My wife hates it. More for me! 😉 –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/29 "2004-10-19T14:29:11Z")
When I first tried this tea years ago I found it ghastly. Of course, the first time I tried marmite it was ghastly, too. Likewise Earl Grey, which now satisfies my cravings for slightly nasty-tasting spicy milky tea. I would be happy for LP to take its place. So on the recommendation of my esteemed Doper friends, I will give it another shot. I would, however, really appreciate some of Michener’s insight into its delights. Can anyone post a link/brief summary of his intriguing description of it? **ETF** : mmm … rooibos … ::drool:: … a tea that tastes like dirt and tree bark ! What could be better? for some reason, I’m craving a cup of tea … ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/30 "2004-10-19T17:44:12Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > How many of you have tried South African rooibos herb tea? BLEEECH! Tried it once, and gave away what was left. Vile. OTOH I like Lapsang Souchong. **Kel Varnsen - Latex Division** …for a more subtle tea, try Pai Mu Tan (my favorite). ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/31 "2004-10-19T17:52:59Z")
I like Lapsang Souchong, but I think it’s better with food. It’s especially nice with strong cheeses or a big greasy breakfast with the works. ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/32 "2004-10-19T18:22:11Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Lapsang Souchoung is nasty… like snorting charcoal chicken… > > but if you really want some **Emperor** , your closest supplier of all things tea-related is on Broadway at Granville in Vancouver, a store called T, and their website is [tealeaves.com](http://tealeaves.com) > > My wife special orders their Imperial Earl Grey (now that’s a fine brew, even if I prefer Ti Kuan Yin Oolong). I was looking at their site last night, although I’m not entirly sure why I didn’t order from them. At any rate, next time that I am down south, I will have to go and check them out. And **zoogirl** Safeway? Hah! This town has four Save on Foods, One Canadian Superstore, a Costco, and a Shoppers Wholesale, but no Safeway, much to my disgust. We used to have one, but it closed and became a Princes Auto. I wish we had one though. Their sub sandwiches were amazing, especially the lumberjack sub. I could buy one of them and have food for at least two days. Big as my head, it was, and for under $10.00. The local grocery stores do carry twinnings, but no lapsang. And I love the twinnings lapsang. I used to drink it all the time as a kid when I went camping with my Dad. ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/33 "2004-10-19T19:04:49Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Go to the Republic of Tea site in Kels post. The gunpowder green that they have is easily worth the price. 😃 I don’t think Republic of Tea makes a gunpowder tea. They do have a mint tea that is made with gunpowder tea, but no plain gunpowder as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/34 "2004-10-19T20:14:35Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > How many of you have tried South African rooibos herb tea? The brand I’ve tried is [Kalahari Red Tea](http://www.kalahariusa.com/), and it is scrumptious! Very high in antioxidants, no caffeine, a rich, sweet, snooth flavor… what’s not to like? Is this similar to what the character Precious Ramotswe drinks regularly in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series of books by Alexander McCall Smith? The stories are set in Botswana and she is forever sitting down to have a mug of sweet bush tea. Sounds delicious! ---
**Author:** ![Anaptyxis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anaptyxis/32/3171_2.png) [@Anaptyxis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaptyxis)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/35 "2004-10-19T21:07:29Z")
I love rooibos and particularly one flavored with vanilla that a diner near me brews. All the good stuff and no caffeine, which I swore off many moons ago. Except for chocolate! Never tried the tea of the OP, though. “Pork flavored tea” sounds, well, _intriguing_ to say the least! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/36 "2004-10-20T01:11:30Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > I **love** Lapsang Souchong. > > Of course, I’ve been castigated aplenty by fellow dopers for enjoying vegemite, marmite, and fish sauce. I’ve also professed my enjoyment of habanero jelly, birch syrup, wasabi coated peanuts, fermented sausage, worchestershire sauce straight out of the bottle, and pickled lemons. > > I _like_ the in-your-face flavors! > > And **Baker**? I first tried it after reading Michener’s Centennial too! 😃 Hm, i love vegemite and marmite, iffy on promite. hate fish sauce and habanero anything, birch syrup as a homemade soda water soda is good, dont really like worchestershire sauce straight from the bottle, but i have one brand of soy sauce that I like from the bottle, wasabi peas are the bomb=) and which kind of pickled lemons? I like the morrocan ones made by cutting lemons in quarters and layering with salt and letting ‘ferment’ fr a month or so. Are we related? ---
**Author:** ![SamIAm336](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SamIAm336](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamIAm336)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/37 "2004-10-20T01:30:07Z")
I love Lapsang Souchong tea. I first tried it when I had a bad cold on the suggestion of a shopowner. It is really wonderful to be able to taste something when you have a cold. I have been addicted to it ever since. I love virtually all real tea, but don’t like hardly any herb teas, especially anything with chamomile in it. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/38 "2004-10-20T01:57:16Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > Is this similar to what the character Precious Ramotswe drinks regularly in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series of books by Alexander McCall Smith? The stories are set in Botswana and she is forever sitting down to have a mug of sweet bush tea. Sounds delicious! That’s probalby honeybush tea, which is from a different plant (_Cyclopia Intermedia_) from rooibos (_Aspalathus_). Kinda similar in flavor, though. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/39 "2004-10-20T02:24:36Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > which kind of pickled lemons? The moroccan kind. I have half a jar in the fridge. I love them with with Wiener Backhun: Chicken pounded flat, breaded and served over noodles with capers and lemon peel, with a caper-lemon sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956/40 "2004-10-23T12:45:55Z")
> [@Emperor Penguin](#): > > I was looking at their site last night, although I’m not entirly sure why I didn’t order from them. At any rate, next time that I am down south, I will have to go and check them out. You’ll enjoy it-- they’ll hand you a sampler cup when you walk in the door, and if you want to sit down and have high tea, you can. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapsang-souchong-is-vile/269956.md?page=3)