Varieties Of Black Tea - Lapsang souchong
Lapsang souchong is a variety of black tea originally from the Zheng Shan part of Mount Wuyi in the Fujian province of China. Real Lapsang Souchong is pretty rare because of Wuyi is a small area and there is great demand for it. You may suggest that real Lapsang Souchong will taste different from what one may find elsewhere. There is a great difference between real Lapsang Souchong and what is commonly sold as ‘Lapsang Souchong.’
Lapsang souchong is a tea which has been smoked over special Chinese pine or cedar fires, pan-fried, rolled and oxidized before being fully dried in bamboo baskets over burning pine. The result is a delicately smoky, earthy brew with a dominant scent and flavor of campfires, which overlies the flavor of the black tea itself. Sometimes the flavor is described as “oaky”, a reference to fine wines (which are stored in oak barrels) but, in fact, oak is not used in the process. Many tea drinkers consider lapsang souchong best suited to consumption in cold weather. Lapsang souchong is considered most complementary to spicy or salty foods. Also, it is purported that this tea is well suited to outdoor enthusiasts, especially after intense physical activities like hiking, distance running, or rock-climbing. This may be due to the fact that commonly available lapsang souchong is usually made from larger, lower grade leaves, that usually also have less caffeine than the more prized Orange Pekoe grade. Lapsang souchong was the favourite tea of the famous travel-writer and explorer Bruce Chatwin. Some people who try lapsang souchong have negative reactions to its flavour and aroma. It can be bitter, and is certainly not sweet. Lapsang souchong is described sometimes as an “acquired taste”, or a substance one must taste several times before liking the taste. Trace amounts of lapsang souchong are included in the Twinings company’s Earl Grey blend.
Preparation Tips: Tip: 13 g tea leaves to 1 liter filtered or soft, boiling water. Allow to brew 2 min
Sources: wikipedia.org, www.teagschwendner.com, jingteashop.com