I recently got back from an awesomely manly weekend camping trip so I was delighted to receive a request for a good Lapsang Souchong recommendation.  I used to brew up this type of tea at work and it was funny how it would always get the same reactions — the guys would walk into the kitchen and perk up from the campfire smell and the ladies would make a sour face. I’ve seen that sour face on countless women who’ve been dragged to a Rush concert and it spells trouble. Of course there are plenty of women who love Rush (I’ve met two) and plenty who love a good cup of Lapsang Souchong, including our requester, so here you go:

Both of my recommendations come from Peet’s Coffee & Tea. They’re a big chain out West but unlike Starbuck’s they’ve always been great and still are. I really like them, their coffee rocks and they have tons of great tea. Their Lapsang Souchong is by no means subtle, but if really smoky tea is what you want, this is it. Sometimes I find it can be a bit much so along the same lines try their Russian Caravan which is a nice, very full bodied blended black tea with enough smokiness to satisfy most Lapsang Souchong fans. It’s one of my favorites.

The check cleared! I mean, er, Jessica at over Authoritea must have really liked our tea! She did, and while it’s not all that surprising it’s quite gratifying. It’s “Grateafying” if you will, and yes, you can go ahead and start a tea-related business with that name. Our gift to you, no strings attached.

Seriously, she’s a shrewd customer and knows her tea. I usually enjoy her reviews (even when we’re not featured) because she tells it like it really is. Like she did this time. Because our tea is so awesome.

Have you ever had a tea from Nilgiri that’s any good? I have not. I keep trying them and have yet to hit on a winner.  I’m starting to think there’s a conspiracy to promote this region as one of the big boys but it’s not fooling us here at Andrews & Dunham Tea Opinions Ltd. Nope. And no, I’m not trying to be a hater — it’d be great to find a bunch of good, affordable teas grown somewhere other than the usual awesome places — but so far it’s not happening.

The Nilgiri mountains, also known as the Blue Mountains, are  on the South side of India. As the name implies, Nilgiri tea comes from this region. Head over to the Nilgiris wiki, look at one or two of those pictures and tell me you don’t want to pack up the rucksack and head over there.  I sure as hell do, but what awaits us in all those lovely mountains is tons of incredibly average, boring tea! Romance, memorable sunsets, sure, we’ll have those but the tea will bore us and drive us apart.

All the big retailers have some fine Nilgiri teas on the menu. Of course I haven’t tried them all, but since each one I’ve tried has been equally disappointing I feel like I have. So I mean it. Tried any good Nilgiri tea? Share the love please.

Don’t pretend you don’t Google yourself sometimes, nobody will believe you… We’re proud of our self-adoring ways.

We got a great shout from Karen at Cool Hunting. It’s so damn complimentary I had to post it.