Shangri La - Smoky Spiced Black Tea Sample Sachet

Shangri La is organic black tea with lapsang souchong blended through it, then cacao nibs, cloves, organic cinnamon, star anise, orange peel and hibiscus. The lapsang brings smoke, the spices bring the mulled wine and Christmas pudding end of things. It is a big, dark, complicated cup.

There is a lot happening here and it is not a tea to buy blind. Four serves lets you test it in the two settings it suits, which are cold afternoons and after dinner, before deciding whether you want 100g of it in the house.

A teaspoon in freshly boiled water, three to four minutes. Best on its own, though a dash of milk will pull the smoke back if it is stronger than you want. It also works iced, which is unexpected for a tea this warming.

$3.50 against $16.00 for 100g. Shangri La in full size. If it is specifically the smoke you are after, the straight Lapsang Souchong is in the black tea collection.