Cocktails with Lapsang souchong tea
Lapsang souchong is a Chinese black tea whose leaves are smoke-dried over a pinewood fire.
How it's used
The smoke is in the leaf, so even a short brew tastes smoky and a long one turns acrid. Two minutes is plenty. It gives a campfire aroma with no alcohol, so it can bring smoke to low- and no-alcohol drinks. Its smoke goes with whisky and dark sugars, and it can stand in for a peated spirit.
Substitutes for Lapsang souchong tea
Black tea with liquid smoke
Plain black tea brewed at the same strength comes closest. Add liquid smoke a drop at a time and taste after each.
Peated Islay whisky
In a cocktail with a spirit, a barspoon of whisky in place of some of the spirit brings the smoke. Use plain black tea in the same amount.
Smoked tea blends
In Russian Caravan and similar blends the smoke is milder. Check that the label lists lapsang: some versions leave it out.
Unsmoked lapsang souchong
Swapped in one for one, it gives the tea's body and none of its smoke.
Description
The intensity is set by distance from the heat and time in the smoke. "Souchong" means the lower, coarser leaf.
