Lapsang Souchong Tea Tiger

Contrary to widespread belief of Lapsang Souchong, it is the tea with the subtlest of smokey characters that is often the most sought after. Our Lapsang Souchong Tiger is a fine example of just that, with its sweet flavours allowing slight Turkish delight / rose petal notes to dance on your palette. Originally from the lower hills of the Wuyi Mountains, this Lapsang Souchong is particularly popular with those who enjoy a unique black tea without the overpowering aftertastes.

Despite not having the same strength as other similar blends, Lapsang Souchong Tiger still shares its processing method with those of its counterparts. Using the more mature leaves of the tea plant as opposed to younger, Lapsang Souchong Tea is created by withering the harvest over a pinewood fire. This accounts for its distinctive flavour, with Tiger just one of many different Lapsang Souchong Loose Tea blends available.

All these blends likewise share another similarity – their mysterious history. Over the course of many centuries, countless tales have been brought to light regarding the origins of this brew. Whilst such stories follow unmistakably similar patterns, no tale has come up on top as being the definitive answer. It is likely that elements of truth can be found in almost all, with one such legend dating back to the Qing Dynasty – a time of great upheaval in the Fujian Province and across China. As rogue Armies and bandits wandered aimlessly around the country, robbing and pillaging as they saw fit, innocent farmers found themselves faced with the reality of losing their crop to these scoundrels. In order to speed up the process and sell the harvest in time, workers attempted to artificially dry the tea leaves over pinewood fires. The result was originally considered a disaster – a smoked tea. Who would buy this ruined produce? As it turned out, Dutch traders at the market adored the unique flavour created from this method and so, Lapsang Souchong was born.

Type of Tea: Black Loose Leaf.

Origin: Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province, China.

Brewing Guide: Use Freshly boiled water and leave to infuse for 3 to 5 minutes.

How to Serve: For those wishing to obtain more flavour, either lemon or honey could be considered. Milk could likewise be added.

Tasting Notes: Aside from its Turkish delight/ rose petal notes and overall subtle smokey flavour, Lapsang Souchong Tiger also has earthy undertones.

Colour in Cup: Brown liquor, dark in tone.

Health Benefits: Lapsang Souchong as a whole is an excellent choice if you are seeking to improve your health. Consumed alongside a healthy and active lifestyle, Lapsang Souchong Tiger can offer benefits such as stronger immune systems, improved cardiovascular health and even weight loss control! Further to this, Lapsang Souchong is a great alternative to coffee if you are looking to lower your caffeine intake. When consumed in reasonable amounts, Lapsang Souchong Tiger can deliver enough of a pick-me-up to boost alertness without unpleasant symptoms.