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“Steeping these leaves in a small, ceramic teapot, I would love to say that the smell conjured up old memories of camping trips and the like…but it did not. It was, however, a delightful aroma that...” Read full tasting note
“I approached this tea with some trepidation. I have had Lapsang Souchong before and found the smokiness too pronounced for my tastes. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It is gorgeous,...” Read full tasting note
“Hi, I drank this. But i thought this is 50 grams small Tuo?” Read full tasting note
Many people have tried a Lapsang Souchong, but few people have ever tasted the authentic Lapsang Souchong from the original farm where it was created around 400 years ago. This is your chance. An outstanding tea from its birthplace. It is rich, soft and smoky made by artisan farmers in a small village called Xing Cun of Tong Mu Guang in the mountains of Wuyi.
The tea leaves are a small varietal called Xiao Zhong, which are dried and smoked over pine wood fires in the traditional way. It has a distinctively rounded, sweet flavour with a hint of dry, spicey fruit, some cocoa undertones and naturally the smokiness for which it is so famous. With this Lapsang Souchong the smokiness is delicate and complements the flavour of the black tea, without overwhelming it.
Our Buyer’s notes “We have bought the 2009 Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong black tea for 2010 because we believe this tea is better stored for a while to allow the smokiness to decrease a little bit and let the dry fruit aromas emerge. This is a really good tea with organic certification in China (OTRDC) and ISO 9001.”
Canton Tea Co is a London-based tea company trading in high grade, whole leaf Chinese tea. We have exclusive access to some of the best jasmine, white, green, oolong, black and authentic puerh teas available. In our first year, we scooped Six Golds at the 2009 Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards. Our Jasmine Pearls won the top three star gold award, endorsing it as the best available in the UK.
Steeping these leaves in a small, ceramic teapot, I would love to say that the smell conjured up old memories of camping trips and the like…but it did not. It was, however, a delightful aroma that wafted from my teapot to my nose. I steeped the leaves for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, a happy compromise when the website suggested 2-3 minutes. Based on my initial impressions of the tea, if you use the correct amount, then 2 minutes is good for a very light tea, and 3 minutes is good if you like your black tea stronger (as I do). Canton Tea Co’s website says that they stored this tea for an extra year to enhance the smokiness and fruit flavours, and I would certainly agree that this has been successful.
The post-steeped leaves are twisted and curly, reddish brown in colour. When I take my first sip, I notice that the smokiness of the tea has a certain subtlety, and the aroma is not overwhelming, as it can be at times with Lapsang Souchong. The tea has brewed a golden brown colour. The forward taste of this tea is light and smooth, while the smokiness dwells in the aftertaste. The aftertaste also contains almost-fruity notes, following the smokiness. These then meld back into a mellow smoked black tea flavour, which is light, almost like a darjeeling.
I would give this tea an 85/100 on my personal enjoyment scale. It was truly a delectable treat.
I approached this tea with some trepidation. I have had Lapsang Souchong before and found the smokiness too pronounced for my tastes. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It is gorgeous, lightly smokey, fruity and it makes me think of camping in the mountains with the smell of pine logs burning on the fire. I am not getting the cocoa undertones that they say are there, but that is probably just my taste buds. I have really enjoyed this tea. I do think that it is a tea that I would only properly appreciate when in the right mood, but that is because it has a stronger flavour than the teas I generally drink a lot of. Spot on, Canton. Thank you.
