“Horrible taste, nothing like the Lapsang Twinings used to sell, masquerading deceptively in a very similar looking box.
For those who’ve posted here feeling the same, I’ve done some research:
Waitrose own Lapsang is good,, not quite as good as Twinings used to be, but also much cheaper, and convenient if you live near a Waitrose.
Cardews of Oxford: one bag is so mild as to be almost tasteless, but if you put 3 bags in a mug… then a very nice Lapsangy taste, quite different from other brands, in a way some people will love.
The Kent and Sussex Tea Company’s Lapsang bags are lovely, really smoky and quite strong. They took quite a long time to deliver my order but it was well worth the wait and is a reasonable price.
So all is not lost for those of us who were previously addicted to Twinings Lapsang!”
“Extremely disappointed with my first and last purchase. I completely understand that it is not possible to reproduce the taste of Lapsang, but I’d been hoping to find an alternative that had the woody, base note kick I could enjoy in the same way. I have persevered with this hoping I would get used to it, but halfway down the box, I have to admit defeat - the sour overtones of wet cardboard and that brown school glue in glass bottles with rubber tops (once smelt, never forgotten!) are inescapable for me.
It’s loose leaf Lapsang in a tea ball from now on.”
“Don't waste your money, it is revolting. Doesn't taste like tea. Doesn't taste smoky. I used 2 bags in one mug and got nothing from it. Twinings, why on earth have you replaced a beautiful classic with this disgusting dishwater? Please sort it out, if you have to replace Lapsang at least put the work and thought into making the replacement drinkable. (Rating 1 star only because they won't let you rate it zero)”
“This is hilariously bad and twenty minutes after pouring away most of my mugfull, I can still taste something reminiscent of snogging a smouldering dumpster. Master blenders created this ash-in-a-bag? What were they smoking?”
“Awful product. Twinings Lapsang Souchong teabags have been my favourite for many decades. This weird no-name concoction is distinctively dodgy. I'll be scouring shelves to stockpile the proper stuff until someone at Twinings has the sense to reintroduce it.”
“I LOVED your Lapsang Souchon - drank it all day every day in a mix with your Earl Gray. This new Distinctively Smoky is, in my opinion, truly revolting. It bears no relation to your Lapsang Souchon. Have only used 1 tea bag, won't be using any more. Will be looking elsewhere for something that will bring back my joy in tea drinking. Would give it 0 stars, but it won't let me.”
“My Tea ceremony is part of me and my day. I'm sure many other Tea-Lovers know exactly what I mean by that. So when Twinings remove their Lapsang from market and Distinctly Smokey is forced on me instead - I'm concerned.
So having tried it I can say that it's really not close enough to Lapsang to be as enjoyable. I'd also suggest an alternative name: Distinctly Tarmac.”
“It is disgusting. Like drinking swimming pool water with some pond scum added. Removing lapsang from your range was just stupid. Replacing it with this is just mad.”
