A macro pile of Tarry Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea
Tarry Lapsang Souchong
Tarry Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea arranged in a circle
Tarry Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea infusion in a glass cup
Tarry Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea 50g Pack
Tarry Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea Caddy
Tarry Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea 250g Pack
Tarry Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea1kg Pack

No. 24

Tarry Lapsang Souchong

Sale price£11.50

Invoking images of wood-burning stoves and forest walks, this strong and smoky tarry lapsang from Fujian province is the perfect black tea to warm your winter.

Format
size:125g Caddy
Quantity:

Redolent of pine smoke, this loose-leaf Chinese smoked tea from Fujian province takes the bold, intoxicating character of Lapsang Souchong a notch further. Characterised by black-brown wavy leaves and an amber-coloured infusion, our Tarry Lapsang Souchong offers a sharp note of smoke on the nose and a light yet spicy flavour profile.

True to tradition, this black tea is harvested in summer in China's rugged Wuyi Mountains, using the tougher leaves from the lower parts of the Camellia sinensis plant, which are then smoked over pine wood. To achieve that unique tarry Lapsang Souchong tea taste, this type of tea is smoked using the wood and the resinous bark of the horsetail pine to amplify its flavour. When brewed, the infusion is a beautiful amber colour that hints at its pine-resin influences. Its smoky, woody nature will appeal to those who appreciate single-malts and warm, aromatic hints of spice.

The history of Lapsang Souchong tea

Located in the hardscrabble landscape surrounding Tong Mu village, the tea gardens that supply the leaves for Lapsang Souchong are rooted in mountainous, rocky terrain 1,200-1,500m above sea level. It's here that the very history of commercially viable black tea is thought to have begun when, according to the most popular story, 17th-century battles between Ming forces and the ascendant Qing dynasty led to a passing army camping in one of Tong Mu's tea production facilities. Before the mid-1600s, only green (unoxidised) and oolong (partially oxidised) teas were drunk in China. But as the Tong Mu workers scrambled to catch up with the tea harvest after the soldiers left, they placed the leaves over pine embers to dry faster – and this charismatic tea was born.

Like a dark black tea, Lapsang Souchong is high in caffeine, making it a great all-day pick-you-up, and contains body-boosting benefits besides: B vitamins, which help with energy and fighting infection, plus minerals such as potassium, zinc and manganese.

Lapsang Souchong is particularly appreciated in the West for its unique smell and distinctive savoury taste. But perhaps no nation has embraced it as much as we British, who have made it a staple of afternoon tea menus and use it to create everything from Lapsang Souchong smoked salmon to smoky cocktails.

Region

Fujian, China

Fujian, a coastal province of southeastern China, faces the Taiwan Strait and is predominantly mountainous, covered in dense forests. The elevation spans from sea level to 2,174m at Mount Huanggang’s peak in the Wuyi Mountains, providing a natural barrier and a spectacular backdrop for tea cultivation. The province experiences a temperate humid subtropical climate with hot, rainy summers and cool, dryer winters, occasionally snowy in higher altitudes.

This climate, coupled with the province’s complex topography, supports a rich tapestry of vegetation and wildlife, creating an ideal setting for producing a variety of teas including Jasmine Green, Tie Guan Yin, Oolong, and smoked teas. Fujian is renowned for its rich, fertile soils and diverse flora at lower elevations, which include evergreens, hardwood trees, and a plethora of bird, amphibian, and reptile species. The higher elevations nurture deciduous trees and rhododendrons. The distinct teas such as those from the Wuyi Mountains and the white teas from the elevated, lush Fuding and Zhenghe counties are celebrated worldwide, making Fujian a critical and vibrant player in the global tea market.

3g - 4g

200ml

100°C

3 - 5mins