Description

This special smoked tea has a distinctive “campfire” flavor, and is a special tea from Fujian province. The best Lapsang is produced in the nature preserve located in the Wuyi Mountains where the high mountains with thick pine forests and heavy mist provide the ideal environment for growing top quality tea.

Legend claims that the smoking process was discovered by accident. During the Qing dynasty, an army unit passing through Xingcun (Star Village) camped in a tea factory filled with fresh leaves awaiting processing. When the soldiers left and the workers could get back into the premises, they realized that to arrive at market in time, it was too late to dry the leaves in the usual way. So they lit open fires of pinewood to hasten the drying. Not only did the tea reach the market in time, but also the smoked pine flavor created a sensation!

The method of production is as follows: The leaves are first withered over fires of pine or cypress wood. After pan-frying and rolling, they are presses into wooden barrels and covered with cloth to ferment until they give off a pleasant fragrance. The leaves are fired again and rolled into taut strips. Then they are placed in bamboo baskets and hung on wooden racks over smoking pine fires to dry and absorb the smoke flavor. When finished they are thick, glossy black strips, and produce a dark red beverage with a unique aroma and taste. It is generally consumed with sugar or milk. Lapsang Souchong can be described as an acquired taste. Depending upon one’s palate the taste can be light and intriguing or it can be heavy and overpowering, but for those who love it, there is nothing else that compare!

Ingredients from: China
Region(s): Fujian Province – Xingchun region
Grade Composition: Special Leaf Lapsang Souchong
Growing Altitudes: 1500 – 4900 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type(s): Orthodox (Traditional leafy), Small batch crafted.
Seasonality: Mar. – Apr. growth
Luxury Ingredients: Black Tea
Antioxidant/Caffeine Content: Low/Medium