A Nice Cuppa

Last Saturday I ventured into Cambridge, MA to check out Algiers ??? a tea and coffee place that supposedly had amazing Turkish coffee. I wasn???t too interested in coffee the night I went and decided to choose a tea from their list. I recognized all of the teas except for one ??? so that is the one I chose.

The tea was called Lapsang Souchong and it has now made its way to the top of my ‘favorite teas’ list (watch out gen maicha!). As the pot of steaming tea came to our table, my roommate and I both found ourselves a bit confused. You know those times when you???re sure you???ve met someone before, but can???t pinpoint exactly where? Well, as the Lapsang Souchong arrived at our table, we both knew we had smelled it before, but could not determine where. I thought it smelled like juniper trees and the early morning when you???re camping. My roommate seconded the vote for ???Smells like camping.??? That???s when we realized that this stuff smells exactly like a campfire. I almost expected to go home with my hair and clothes smelling like wood smoke, after drinking a pot of Lapsang.

This campfire-in-a-mug comes from the Fujian province of China and gets its flavor and color (a surprising red-orange) from a multi-step process. It???s first withered over cypress or pine fire, oxidized, and then smoked over pine. In case I haven???t sold you on this tea using the liquid campfire description, let me entice you to try it based on some of its other characteristics. The thin, light, easy to sip nature of Lapsang Souchong complements the bold, rich, and smoky flavor. For people who like to add milk and sweetener to their tea, Lapsang does not disappoint. However, for tea drinkers who prefer it straight up, this tea offers an intricate blend of uninhibited flavors. And if you still aren???t sure you want to try it, consider this: Lapsang Souchong is often described as “the tea for those who appreciate single-malt Scotch whiskey and fine cigars.” Not so into cigars and whiskey? It is also said to pair perfectly with Mexican food and fine cheeses.

Sure, you can easily brew a pot of Lapsang Souchong yourself at home, but then you???d miss out on the experience of Algiers. Tucked away in a Cambridge cottage, this mysterious Brattle Street business offers a selection of interesting wine, beer, tea, coffee, and food. But, the incredibly delicious food and luscious beverages aren???t even the best part. Algiers has character. And if a restaurant/bar/teahouse/coffeehouse can be sultry, this one definitely is. There???s mismatched artwork on the dusky walls, intricate mosaic lamps on the tables, antique hookahs scattered about, and perfectly weathered hexagonal wooden tables creating random formations. So, next time you???re in Cambridge, MA, take the time to visit Algiers. Sit at a table upstairs, share a pot of Lapsang Souchong and some appetizers, and enjoy the dark, warm atmosphere of this rare find.

Algiers Coffee House
40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA
(617) 482-1557