Lapsang Souchong Smoked Black Tea

Average rating:

4 comments

Type: Black Tea
Grade: 1-3
Production area: Tongmu, Wuyi Shan, Fujian Province

Tea was not only one of China’s great inventions, it was also a great source of export income during the last few centuries. Created by serendipity, Lapsang Souchong was the original ancestor of all black teas and the first to be imported by the Europeans starting in the 1600s.

Authentic traditional Lapsang Souchong is produced in Tongmu, a nature reserve within Wuyi Mountain in Fujian Province. The prominent characteristic of a traditional Lapsang Souchong is leaves are meticulously smoked with pine wood. The best Lapsang Souchong is one that offers layers of pine smoke, longan (Dragon Eye) fruit, and floral scent. Sadly, the majority of the Lap-sang Souchong available in the United States are of the heavily-smoked variety, which mostly uses leaves from outside of Wuyi Mountain.

Bana is very proud to present authentic traditional Lapsang Souchong from Tongmu. Production of this style of Lapsang Souchong is very limited due to the amount of labor and the skills involved in the production. Brewed to a clear amber hue, the tea offers a bouquet of pine smoke and tropical fruit that is balanced and savory.

$30.00

for 10 packages (about 50g total)

To find out more about this tea, please visit The Story of Legendary Lapsang Souchong

BREWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Empty one packet into a teapot or gaiwan and bring 5 oz. of water to boil. Rinse the leaves once and discard the water. Start steeping according to the recommended steeping times below.

BREWING TEMPERATURE: tea temperature

BREWING TIMES:

RINSE
1 sec.

1st BREW
20 sec.

2nd BREW
20 sec.

3rd BREW
30 sec.

4th BREW
30 sec.

5th BREW
50 sec.

6th BREW
1 min..

STIMULATION FACTOR: Medium

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Customer Comments:

Stellar introduction to this legendary tea 09/10/2023
By Christopher Baker
This was my first Lapsang Souchong and, of course, it was beyond description. I'm coming at this as a fan of Chinese green and white tea who came here to begin exploring Pu Erh. Your description of the quality tempted me to try this tea which has always existed outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to just savor this first experience and perhaps take notes on later batches. It was so good I felt compelled to write this review as if shouting the proper praises from the rooftops! Warm, sweet, roasty, toasty, and (of course) smoky. Spicy woodiness, something like cedar (but not cedar), more like dried, aged lumber made from a cinnamon tree (which I've never experienced, only imagining because of this dream inducing, transparent, amber liquor). Surprisingly less bitter than I expected from the idea of tea smoked over pine wood. I celebrated every sip! I understand why westerners went so crazy for this. Thank you for this experience!
Our responseWow! That is high praise. Thank you. I wish this historical tea would have a comeback. Unfortunately, the quality of Lapsang gets worse and worse. Some manufacturers even make Lapsang Souchong without the smoky flavor, which totally erases the history of this tea.

Best Lapsang Souchong 12/16/2022
By Rory
I drink many types of tea and have enjoyed the highest quality. The shop that I normally get my Lapsang Souchong from stop carrying it. Unfortunately for me, I'm extremely picky and only like traditionally smoked old school Lapsang. This was probably the 10th one I've tried in attempting to find a replacement and I am so lucky I did! I will definitely be buying this tea again and not only was it a very quality and traditional style, it also had a delicious palette of flavors and depth that is not normally seen. This is a great tea and I can't wait to get it again. I hope Team Bana considers stocking this tea in loose leaf format so that it can be purchased easier in larger quantities. Thank you for the quality sourcing and attention to detail on this tea.
Our responseYour review put a smile on my face. It took a lot of effort for me to find this old fashion good-quality smoked Lapsang. The balance between the smoke flavor and other flavors is so important in a quality Lapsang. I am so glad you appreciate the nuances this old, yet complex tea offers.

Good, Great for This Price 09/26/2021
By Sara K.
This tea has a bold flavor. It's not my favorite oolong, not even among Da Hong Pao oolongs. However, since this only costs 20 USD for 75g, it's a great choice for this price.

It really does taste like longan 09/21/2021
By Sara K.
This is the first time I've tried a Lapsang Souchong, and I love it. It tastes like longan, and the smoky flavor makes it taste even better.
Our responseThis was the first black tea that enamored the people in the West.