Maple Hot Toddy

Ingredient Spotlight

Lapsang souchong (smoked black tea) bags

A strongly smoked black tea from Fujian province in China: the leaves are traditionally smoke-dried over pine wood, giving a pronounced campfire, pine-resin aroma and a bold smoky flavor. It’s used as a drinking tea but also as a seasoning or aromatic in marinades and cocktails where a smoky, tea-like note is desired. Find it at specialty tea shops, Asian groceries, or online. If you don’t have it, substitute a milder black tea plus a tiny pinch of smoked paprika or a drop of liquid smoke, or use another smoked black tea in smaller quantity because lapsang is intense.

Ingredient Spotlight

Smoked sea salt (or regular sea salt)

Sea salt that has been cold-smoked over wood (often alder, oak, or hickory) so the crystals carry a clean smoky aroma and finish, used primarily as a finishing salt to add smoke without cooking over flame. It’s sold by gourmet grocers, specialty spice shops, and online and can elevate finishing touches on cocktails, meats, and vegetables. Substitute regular sea or kosher salt plus a pinch of smoked paprika, chipotle powder, or a very small amount of liquid smoke to approximate the flavor. Use sparingly, as the smoked salts can be quite potent.