Russian Caravan facts for kids
Russian Caravan is a special blend of different teas, usually including oolong, Keemun, and lapsang souchong teas. It's known for its rich smell and full flavor, often tasting sweet, malty, and a little smoky. Some versions of this tea might not have lapsang souchong, making them less smoky. Others might even include assam tea.
The smoky taste was traditionally thought to come from the tea traveling close to campfires. This happened during long journeys across the Mongolian Steppes to Russia.
What is Russian Caravan Tea?
Russian Caravan tea is a mix of different teas. It often combines oolong tea, which is partly oxidized, with Keemun, a type of black tea from China. The blend also frequently includes lapsang souchong, a black tea that is smoke-dried. This gives the tea its unique smoky flavor. Some blends might use assam tea or other black teas instead of lapsang souchong, which makes them less smoky.
A Journey Through History
Even though Russian Caravan tea is a Chinese tea, its name comes from the 18th century. Back then, large groups of camels carried tea from places like China, India, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) all the way to Europe. They traveled through Russia on these long journeys.
The trip was very tough and could take at least six months. Camels carried the tea over six thousand miles from the Chinese border to European Russia. People believed that the cold, dry air of Mongolia and Siberia actually made the tea taste better. They thought it lost any unpleasant taste from how it was dried. Some even believed that the tea got a special flavor from absorbing a little moisture when it was unloaded at night onto the snow.
The Secret of the Smoky Taste
For a long time, people told stories that the tea got its smoky taste from the campfires. These fires were used by the camel caravans during their long trips. However, only the lapsang souchong tea in the blend is actually smoke-dried. This means it's dried over a fire, which gives it that distinct smoky smell and taste.
Some Russian Caravan blends use Yunnan black tea along with Keemun and lapsang souchong. This creates a strong, full-bodied tea with a deep copper color. It has a smoky, rich flavor and a smooth, pleasant taste after you drink it.
