“The new blend of Lapsang Souchong tea is Twinings' most disastrous achievement in its recent history - a perfect cup of tea has become an undrinkable cup of tea. It tastes so awful it's almost funny. Their new strapline, 'distinctly smoky,' should read 'distinctly disgusting'. It is astonishing that Twinings actually allowed this to go on sale - it tarnishes their name.
I sent feedback yesterday and got a reply from a department which clearly has a very nice sandpit in its meeting room, and when they gather for a meeting, they all bury their heads in the sand. They said:
At Twinings, we are invested in preserving the tastes of our iconic blends and because we know our customers love a smoky tea, our Master Blenders used their fine blending skills to replicate the delicious smoky tones of Lapsang Souchong by adding a distinctive smoke flavouring to a combination of black teas; the result of which is our new Distinctively Smoky blend. Our Product Development Team then worked with consumer taste panels and we use this feedback to make any tweaks before releasing the new flavour. Only once a blend meets the high expectations of our Master Blenders and research groups does it make its way onto your supermarket shelves.
What a lot of tosh - Twinings has note remotely preserved the taste of the original belnd. The truth is Twinings have had trouble importing the original blend from wherever they import it from, and instead of being honest, they have tried to palm us off with something inferior and expect us not to notice. That is an insult.”
Thanks for reviewing our Distinctively Smoky; we're really sorry to hear you haven't enjoyed this new blend.
As advised in the email from our CS team, we can confirm that we were experiencing issues importing Lapsang Souchong, and as a result, we made the difficult decision to discontinue this blend.
Whilst we are disappointed to hear your feedback, we do appreciate that you've taken the time to get back in touch and share your experience. Rest assured, your additional comments about our Distinctively Smoky tea will be passed on to our Master Blenders.
“So sad to see the original lapsang replaced by this smoke flavoured tea. It’s really awful, you can really taste the chemical smoke flavouring. I’ve used one bag from the box and had to throw the rest away. I’ve had at least 2 mugs of twinings lapsang everyday for the last 30+ yrs. I even take some lapsang bags with me every time I travel! Would happily pay more for the original if it’s a cost issue. A previously very happy customer, now not so happy. Please go back to your old lovely Lapsang tea.”
Thanks for your review.
Due to issues importing Lapsang Souchong, we recently made the tough decision to remove it from our product listings. We're really sorry for any disappointment caused and are also sorry to hear you haven't enjoyed our Distinctively Smoky tea, which was created to replace this blend.
We really appreciate your feedback about both of these products and will ensure that your comments are passed on to our Master Blenders and our Product Development team.
Thanks for reviewing our Distinctively Smoky tea.
We're very sorry to hear you haven't enjoyed this new blend but we appreciate your feedback and will ensure that your comments are passed on to our Master Blenders.
“Sorry to say this tastes really unpleasant. If you can't get the real thing you would be better to discontinue it rather than offering this distinctly inferior product.”
Thanks for reviewing our Distinctively Smoky tea.
We're very sorry to hear you haven't enjoyed this new blend but we appreciate your feedback and will ensure that your comments are passed on to our Master Blenders.
“I will never buy these tea bags again after buying Twinings Lapsang Souchong for years. I got a very strong chemical taste it’s disgusting. Bring back Lapsang Souchong and 50 bags not 40 please.”
Thanks for reviewing our new Distinctively Smoky tea.
We've created this new product to replace our Lapsang Souchong tea which has now sadly been discontinued due to issues importing the blend.
We're very sorry for any disappointment caused, and we're also sorry that you didn't enjoy our new Distinctively Smoky blend. However, we appreciate your feedback and will ensure that your comments are passed on to our Master Blenders.
“I've been drinking Lapsang Souchong for twenty years. It's warm smoky flavour has always been a source of reassurance and comfort to me.
This new product is not the same. True, it technically doesn't advertise itself as Lapsang (instead being "Inspired by" the original) but this is a poor replacement for what was previously Twinings' best tea. The smoky flavour has none of the mellow notes of the original, and instead tastes stale and like old cigarettes. Previously a weaker tea that would be pale when mixed with milk, this new tea instead looks grey and sterile.
Lapsang has a very special place for drinkers such as myself: ex-smokers, hippy students, men and women of the world. If this new product is to replace the original for the foreseeable future, then that's a matter of great heartbreak to myself.”
Thanks for reviewing our new Distinctively Smoky blend.
We've created this new product to replace our Lapsang Souchong tea; unfortunately, we were experiencing issues importing this blend so we made the tough decision to remove it from our product listings.
We're very sorry for any disappointment this may cause and are also sorry that you didn't enjoy our new Distinctively Smoky blend. However, we appreciate your feedback and will ensure that your comments are passed on to our Master Blenders.
“Just grim :( I adore the original Lapsang Souchong and this is nothing like it. Horrible and won't purchase again. I have no idea why Twinings changed their blend to this but it is very sad as I have drunk Twinings Lapsang Souchong for years.”
Thanks for reviewing our new Distinctively Smoky blend.
We can confirm this product has been developed to replace our Lapsang Souchong tea; unfortunately, we were experiencing issues importing this blend so we made the tough decision to remove it from our product listings.
We're very sorry you haven't enjoyed our new blend but we appreciate your feedback and will ensure that your comments are passed on to our Master Blenders.
Thanks for reviewing our new Distinctively Smoky blend.
We've created this new product to replace our Lapsang Souchong tea; unfortunately, we were experiencing issues importing this blend so we made the tough decision to remove it from our product listings.
We're very sorry for any disappointment this may cause, and are also sorry that you didn't enjoy our new Distinctively Smoky blend. However, we appreciate your feedback and will ensure that your comments are passed on to our Master Blenders.
