Character
The Story of Smoked tea
Aroma of pine-smoked black tea leaves. Deep, smoldering, with warmth that lingers. Captures the essence of Lapsang Souchong, the world's first black tea, smoked over Chinese red pine in Wuyi Mountain mists.
Heritage
Smoked tea traces its roots to the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province, China, where farmers began experimenting with pinewood smoking in the mid-15th century. Lapsang Souchong emerged as the world's first black tea, born from an accidental discovery when tea leaves were dried over pine fires during a military disruption. The local Chinese red pine became central to the process. Farmers stacked tea leaves on bamboo mats above a low pine fire, allowing months of gentle smoke to penetrate the leaves. This traditional method persists today in the misty mountain villages, where tea masters control smoke intensity to achieve the desired depth of flavor.
At a Glance
1
Feature this note
China
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Solvent extraction
Tea leaves (Camellia sinensis)
Did You Know
"Legend says a tea harvest was delayed by a military passing through the village, so farmers dried the leaves over pine fires to save the crop. The smoke created an accidental masterpiece."