ARIEL Lapsang Souchong

Lapsang Souchong is a black tea like no other: bold, dark and unmistakably smoky. This classic Chinese tea is dried over smouldering pine, and the long, twisted leaves drink in that woodsmoke as they cure. The result is a rich, campfire-scented cup for anyone who likes their tea with real character.

Tasting Notes

The cup is deep amber-red and leads, of course, with smoke – pine and woodfire up front, warm and resinous. Underneath sits a full-bodied black tea, malty and a little sweet, with a savoury note some people love. It's bold but smooth, low in astringency, and the smoke lingers pleasantly on the finish. Excellent on its own, and it stands up to milk or a place in the kitchen.

Smoked over Pinewood

Lapsang Souchong comes from the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian, in southeastern China – the region where black tea is said to have begun. The finished leaves are laid over fires of Chinese pine and cypress, and that's where the smoke comes from: no flavouring added, just wood, heat and time. It's one of the most distinctive teas in the world.

Brewing

Heat fresh water to 95 °C and steep 2.5 g (about one teaspoon) for 3 to 4 minutes. It's a robust tea, so it holds a full steep and takes a splash of milk well; the same leaves give a good second cup.

Additional Information

• Ingredients: Whole leaf black tea.
• Formats: 100 g loose leaf, 1 kg loose leaf
• Certifications: Kosher
• Foundation: Humaniterra Foundation