Organic Lapsang Souchong - China Black
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 (Organic Equivalency with COR, NOP, EU, JAS)
INGREDIENTS FROM: China
REGION(S): Fujian Province
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
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.Start up
Prepaid Order - 4 to 5 weeks to ship (estimate)
No Exchange, No Return or No Refund