Old-Growth Lapsang Souchong, Chinese red tea

The famous Lapsang Souchong is considered to be one of the first red (black) teas ever made, originating from Wuyi mountains in South-East China. It is a delicate gongfu red tea with a distinct pine smoke aroma that once you experienced it, you will never forget. The origin legend has it that the Imperial army stayed camp in the tea processing facility of Tongmu village and the farmers couldn't process the daily harvest of fresh leaves that had been gathered in the rooms. Furthermore, the soldiers slept on the leaves throughout the night. The farmers were anguished the next morning once the soldiers had moved on - all the hard work ruined! In a desperate attempt to save the leaves, they fried them over pine embers and let them rest. To everyones surprise, the result was astonishing - a fine, delicate, pleasantly smoky flavour. From that day on, the tea in Tongmu was always processed in this fashion, making it famous and beloved across most China and eventually the whole world.

Our Lapsang is harvested in Spring from old-growth tea bushes of Xiao Zhong varietal, that were planted between 40 to 60 years ago in Tongmu village, Wuyishan, China. Compared to our previous "Lapsang Premium", the leaves are larger and less sharp in flavour, but the energy of the tea is deeper and smoother as usual for old-growth, the tea opening up beautifully from steeping to steeping. The smoking itself is done ever so skilfully as with the previous tea.