Profile : Organic Lapsang Souchong
Loose - Organic - China Black Tea
March 12, 2019
CUP CHARACTERISTICS: A smooth crisp character with the remarkable and heady aroma of a pine and oak wood fire. Cup tends bright with reddish hues.
Ingredients: Black tea* *Organic Certified Organic by Pro-Cert Organic Systems
INGREDIENTS FROM: Fujian Province
REGION(S): China
SHIPPING PORT(S): Fuzhou
GROWING ALTITUDES: 1500 - 4900 feet above sea level
GRADE(S): Butterfly Lapsang Souchong
MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Orthodox (Traditional leafy), Small batch crafted.
ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: Low
CAFFEINE LEVEL: Medium
VEGETARIAN: Yes
VEGAN: Yes
INFUSION: Bright with reddish hues
INFORMATION:
In
life there are many things we tend to love or hate, things for which a
middling position is impossible. Consider: Liver and onions. Heavy
Metal Music. Getting caught in the rain. You either love 'em or you
hate 'em. Well now you can add a tea to the list - Lapsang Souchong.
Variously compared to a burning campfire or ashtray, the flavor of
Lapsang Souchong is to the uninitiated, quite an intense flavor to
behold. However, to those who know, the smoky cup of a high quality
Fujian Lapsang is second to none, mysteriously miraculous, a feast for
the taste buds, truly one of those unique items for which there is no
middle ground of appreciation.
So how is this miraculous tea
produced and who conceived of it in the first place? Well, there is
only one way to produce it. Souchong leaves, noted for their thick,
rough appearance are withered over burning pine bows, placed in barrels
covered with cloth and allowed to ferment. A process which has gone
virtually unchanged for hundreds of years. And who came up with the
idea? Like many developments in the world of tea there is more than one
story. One story maintains that during the Qing Dynasty an army unit
passing through a small village decided to camp in a tea factory. Once
they were gone, the workers realized that the only way to get the tea
ready for the next day's market was to dry it over a fire. They did
exactly that and voila, Lapsang Souchong was born. Story number two
describes a situation aboard an English Tea Clipper in route from China.
In this story, waves broke over the deck during a storm and soaked a
shipment of Fujian tea. The sailors, recognizing this to be very bad
for business decided to dry the tea in large pans set over a campfire.
Et voila, Lapsang Souchong was born again. So, take your pick. Which
story do you like?
May we suggest you mull it over a nice hot
cup of tea? Inhale the rich smoky aroma and absorb the mystery of its
origins. Next take a sip and note how the smoky sensation fills your
mouth in a way no other tea possibly could. Can you tell which side of
the love/hate relationship we fall on? It is important to steep Lapsang
for slightly less time than you would other teas. Even for a true
connoisseur the flavor of an over-steeped Lapsang can be slightly
overwhelming. The flavor may also be enhanced with a touch of milk and
sugar. In conclusion, we are pleased to offer you this superb tea,
especially so considering its organic status. Unlike many inferior
Lapsangs that may be grown and flavored with chemicals, this tea is 100%
natural. So brew a pot today, and get with the love.