Lapsang Souchong Black Tea is known as “smoked tea” and I was able to try Cha Wu WarmSun’s Lapsang Souchong Black Tea (Grade B) from Fujian, China. (NOTE: Amazon sells both Grade A and B).
But this is not the smoky flavored version.
While the version sold by Cha Wu WarmSun are not the smoky flavor type, typically Lapsang Souchong has a smoky flavor because the leaves are smoke dried over pinewood fires, thus the taste of smoky pine.
And the aroma of Longifolene and a-terpineol, many of the compounds making up the aroma of the tea originated from the pine smoke, as these compounds are not found in any other teas.
The story behind the tea was that during the Qing area, as passage of armies delayed the annual drying of the tea leaves in the Wuyi Mountain, tea producers spend up the process by drying the leaves over fires made from local pines.
Some say, Lapsang Souchong is the first black tea in history, even earlier that Keemun produced in the Qimen County in the south of Anhui province.
For the most part, this tea is quite delicious. But not when the water is hot and boiling. It’s best to let the water to be hot, just not boiling hot as I noticed the difference of flavors.
I’m guessing the reason why this is not the smokey version is because for the real Fujian Lapsang Souchong, prices are much more expensive.
Still, this is very good tea, good aroma and very good taste.
I recommend the “Cha Wu WarmSun” because of its inexpensive price. But I do want to try the smokey version of Lasang Souchong someday, this tea is one I would recommend!
