Tarry Lapsang Souchong Organic

TARRY LAPSANG SOUCHONG ORGANIC

Smoked Black Tea Lapsang Souchong

Lapsang Souchong Tea: Chinese Smoked Tea

The Lapsang Souchong is a very particular smoked black tea. It is a variety of Chinese black tea, also known in China as Shan Xiao Zhong, named after the variety of Camellia Sinensis from which it comes, cultivated in the Fujian region, southeast of China, in the Tong Mu county, in the Wuyi mountains, where other varieties such as oolong tea are also grown. Lapsang Souchong tea is fully oxidized, as with black teas, subjected to the drying process, and then smoked, generally with pine, cedar, or conifer wood. This gives the tea pronounced aromas of soy, wood, flowers, and dried fruit, and for many, it distinctly recalls smoked foods and charcuterie.

Lapsang Souchong and Tarry Lapsang Souchong: What are the Characteristics?

Lapsang Souchong tea is different from many Chinese teas precisely because of its smoking process. There are different varieties: the Tarry Lapsang Souchong available at Terza Luna is the most intense and strong version of Lapsang Souchong tea, which differs in the type of leaves, the harvest period, and precisely in the degree of smoking to which the leaves are subjected. Generally, Lapsang Souchong tea has whole and rolled leaves, and its infusion has a reddish-amber color. Traditional Lapsang Souchong, like the selected Lapsang Souchong 1st Grade among our Premium Rare Teas, is the most consumed in China and the East, with smaller leaves and a more delicate taste, with a clear balance between leaf flavor and smoking degree. The Tarry Lapsang Souchong tea sacrifices this balance in favor of a strong smoking flavor.

History and Curiosities

With the exception of some varieties, Lapsang Souchong is generally made from the larger and more developed leaves of the plant, which are smoked, as well as oxidized, to obtain the unique, intense flavor with woody and tobacco notes. According to the legend that accompanies the history of Lapsang Souchong tea, in the Qing dynasty kingdom, the arrival of an army camped in a tea factory forced the workers to stop tea production, which was supposed to be processed to obtain green tea. When the soldiers left the factory, the workers returned to work, and to make up for lost time and speed up processing times to meet deadlines, they decided to speed up the leaf drying process by burning pine wood underneath, which gave the predominant smokiness to Lapsang Souchong. This accidental technique won over many palates, so much so that Lapsang Souchong tea became the favorite of many enthusiasts and highly sought after, especially in Great Britain. Perhaps this story is just a legend, however, smoking allows you to obtain a tea like Tarry Lapsang Souchong with a unique taste that allows you to enhance leaves normally considered less valuable.

How to Prepare Smoked Tarry Lapsang Souchong Tea?

Lapsang Souchong, being a very particular tea, is not appreciated by everyone for drinking pure, often preferred in culinary preparations. For those who instead appreciate sipping it for their afternoon tea, it should be prepared by steeping the leaves. For the preparation, use:

• 2-3 grams of Tarry Lapsang Souchong
• 250 ml of water at 95°C
• Steeping time: 1-2 minutes

The infusion will have a coppery-amber color and a strong and pungent taste, with a low caffeine content.

How to Use Lapsang Souchong in the Kitchen? Pairings

As already mentioned, Lapsang Souchong tea can be enjoyed on its own, but given the characteristic of its aromatic notes and smokiness, it is the tea most used in cooking, as it pairs well with different preparations. For those who want to drink it with dishes, it can be enjoyed with rich desserts and chocolate, but especially with savory and robust dishes, such as English breakfasts and smoked or very spicy and hot foods, salmon, bacon, and smoked ham. Thanks to the unmistakable smoky aromas of wood and undergrowth, Lapsang Souchong tea offers a unique sensory experience, which also pairs well with the flavor of fattier fish cooked on the grill. An ideal drink for brunch.

Recipes with Lapsang Souchong Tea: The Chef's Favorite

Black Lapsang Souchong tea is the favorite of chefs, thanks to its smoky notes that enrich various dishes, and not only: it is worth trying in combination with liqueurs or spirits, for the creation of a Lapsang Souchong Tea cocktail. Among the most famous recipes that use this particular tea, there is certainly the Lapsang Souchong-flavored carbonara, which gives the dish the right smoky flavor that allows you to replace bacon and obtain a completely vegan dish. It can also be used to flavor simple white rice or couscous or to enhance risottos with its woody taste: excellent pairing in a risotto with salmon, saffron, and black Lapsang Souchong tea. Many chefs also use it to marinate meat and fish fillets, giving a more intense and pungent taste, but also to add to the boiling water of eggs, potatoes, or in steaming.

Lapsang Souchong Tea: Sale

If you are wondering where to find Tarry Lapsang Souchong for sale online, Terza Luna is the answer. For over ten years, we have been importing fine teas and spices, specially chosen during our travels around the world. Quality products from small organic and artisanal cultivations, to enrich your pantry with unique ingredients.

Price:

You can purchase Tarry Lapsang Souchong in different sizes at a convenient price:

• 50 g - €4.50
• 100 g - €9.00
• 250 g - €20.25 instead of €22.50

If you are interested in varieties of Chinese tea, you can discover curiosities and other products on our online shop at Terza Luna.