“Just opened what I thought was the original ‘Lapsang Souschong’ by Twinings - brewed myself a cup and immediately noticed a different smell than what I’d usually expect.
Went to taste the tea and noticed a difference immediately, the mouthfeel is incredibly oily with a bitter residue, not smooth and silky as before, the body is astoundingly puckering, dry and sharp.
Leaving my mouth feeling very strange as though I’ve chewed charred plastic and I’m on the precipice of a chemical burn.
Went back to the box to check it was “Lapsang..etc” and noticed I’d bought this copycat in packaging; ‘Distinctively Smokey’.
As a true lover and regular drinker of the original product - in fact the only tea I drink made by Twinings and the only reason I’ve gone to the effort of writing this lengthy moan - this has really come as a disappointing surprise.
In my opinion, the ‘Lapsang Souschong’ this product claims to be ‘inspired by’ (or attempting take the place of) is for me, doing a very bad job of convincing me that it has a ‘mellow smoke flavoured tea’ that ‘is an alternative to smoked tea, which can be enjoyed all day long.’ As marketed.
I find that it is not mellow at all and I am unable to enjoy one mug, and in fact feel like a mug not only for not reading the box but also spending money and writing this review.
I regret buying this as the original was genuinely my favourite tea in the cupboard and feel cheated out of almost a fiver.
The flavour is chemical, as though the smoke is no longer a “wood” smoke but perhaps “plastic” smoke?
I’m not sure what is going on in the processing of this “blend of teas from around the world, including China,” or the safety and legitimacy of the product as my mouth now feels very peculiar, but hey what do I know? I’ve only been working in the specialty coffee industry for a decade and a single tea blend sourced ‘from around the world’ is a very different industry entirely.
I understand businesses need to keep their staff, partners, associates and customers happy and Twinings has done its best in producing this for which ever reasons it needed to, financially, sourcing issues etc.
Though for me, choice is the beauty of life and will be venturing elsewhere for a similar or better quality product to the previous “Lapsang souchong” even if I have to spend a bit more to get it.
I’d buy the original Lapsang Souchong product in either Morrisons, Sainsburys or co-op, and believe there was no other competition on the supermarket shelves that put this product in jeopardy of its own simplicity, being a decent quality smokey tea, and therefore this change is even more bizarre.
I’m encouraged (and probably others) to find better elsewhere so likely in the future there will be competition - thus encouraging the sourcing to become niche but so too perhaps the price sky rocketing unnecessarily. And so, the consumerist rollercoaster continues…
Had Twinings managed to keep the same product with the same weight, increased the price (due to their own needs) and perhaps introduced it as a loose leaf version with a decent reusable container to follow suit, I would buy it without hesitation.
This box will not be wasted and probably go into some kind of t-shirt staining venture, honestly, no idea. I do know I will not drink it or give it to any of my loved ones to drink…
Thank you anyway to Twinings for your original offering of Lapsang. I’m clearly addicted (should probably see someone for that) and emotional (this too, that’s what the tea was for) about this change but you opened the palate door of mystery and now my life and soul will forever be wandering trying to find soothing smokey peace within…”
“Twinning’s Lapsang was my tea of choice for years, so when they stopped providing it I bought a box of this. It’s horrible; tastes weirdly artificial and nothing like Lapsang at all. I wish they’d switch back but clearly they won’t I’ve switched to Waitrose loose-leaf Lapsang instead which is pretty decent.”
“I have loved Twinings Lapsang Souchong since I was a girl. I have tried this new attempt at replicating the flavour. At each mouthful I get the distinct flavour of tar. It’s really unpleasant and the rest of the box will be going in the bin.”
“I used to buy the Lapsang Souchong on a regular basis, it was one of my favourite teas, but this new replacement product is nothing like the old one. No doubt my disgust is in part because I was expecting by to taste the refined flavours of the old tea, but I found the new one undrinkable. I used one bag, attempted to drink half a cup and promptly gave the rest away. I’m going to try to source as much of the old product as I can before it’s completely out of circulation. A real shame.”
“Terrible, what have you done? two cups, thought it was my taste buds, now I know you have messed around with the tea, awful, will try fortnums or harrogate. Don't mess with earl grey please.”
