Lapsang Souchong
Lapsang Souchong
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Our Fujian mountain black tea is well-known for its distinctive flavour; full-bodied and smoky it is often likened to a good Islay Whisky. Lapsang Souchong is probably the most famous Chinese black tea, it makes an amazing accompaniment with savoury, meaty dishes.
Lapsang Souchong is a very well-known black tea, originally from the Wuji mountains in China. It is most well known for its distinctive, smoky flavour that creates a strongly savoury infusion that pairs well with strong, meaty flavours and is often compared to drinking good scotch whiskey.
Less well-known is that the development of the smoky, whiskey flavours is not by design; but a by-product of a need for a fast and effective preservation method for tea leaves.
As the story goes, villager tea farmers on the Wuji mountains often found that their harvest were at risk of damage and ruin from the passage of armies who cared little for trampling over the livelihood of village folk; and roving marauders who would loot, slash and burn as they travelled often decimating crops and ruining harvests.
In order to make sure that the precious tea leaves made it through harvest to market, the villagers had to find a way to speed up the process of preserving the leaves to get them to market before they could be stolen or destroyed, and so a method of quickly oxidising leaves was proposed with the leaves being laid out over pine fires to speed up the oxidisation process. As a result, the leaves naturally infused with the scent of pine smoke which, instead of ruining the leaves, made them a hugely popular delicacy with the British and Dutch who would pay premiums for these specially smoked teas.
Today the smoking method is a little less provincial and the leaves picked for smoking are of much higher quality; but Lapsang Souchong serves as a wonderful reminder that necessity is the mother of invention!
To Enjoy
Place one teaspoon per cup into an infuser, filter or teapot. Add freshly boiled water and infuse for 4 minutes. Serve immediately or remove leaves to prevent spoiling.
Ingredients
Ingredients
Black Tea.
Allergens Note: All products are packed in an environment that contains nuts and other allergens.
Our Sizes Explained
Caddies
Caddies
Standard Caddy
Our bespoke white and lilac caddy is the perfect way to keep your infusion fresh.
Contains enough for approximately 40 cups of happiness.
Refill Pouch
Refill Pouch
The refill carton, available in Standard and Large, is a perfect, environmentally friendly way to replenish your Tea Palace Caddies.
Contains enough for approximately 40 cups (Standard) or 60 cups (Large) of one of our infusions.
Sample Caddy
Sample Caddy
Our small sample size caddy weighs 45g and is the perfect way to try a new infusion or multiple different blends.
It contains enough for approximately 10 cups of goodness.
About Lapsang Souchong
Lapsang Souchong tea is a distinctive and robust black tea renowned for its smoky aroma and flavour. Originating from the Wuyi region of China's Fujian province, this unique tea is processed using a traditional smoking method that imparts its characteristic smokiness.
During the production of Lapsang Souchong, the tea leaves are withered over pine wood fires and then pan-fired to halt oxidation.
Afterward, the leaves are rolled and shaped before being placed in bamboo baskets and smoked over pinewood fires. This smoking process infuses the leaves with a rich, smoky flavour that sets Lapsang Souchong apart from other teas.
The resulting brew is bold and full-bodied, with a distinct smoky aroma and taste that evokes images of a crackling campfire or a cosy hearth.
Despite its intense flavor profile, Lapsang Souchong retains a smooth and mellow quality that balances its smokiness, making it a favorite among tea enthusiasts seeking a unique and memorable tea-drinking experience.
Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with savoury dishes, Lapsang Souchong tea offers a truly distinctive and memorable drinking experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
