2024 Traditional Smoked Zhengshan Xiaozhong Wuyi Mountain High-Grown Black Tea, Seed Propagation Varietal, 1,300m Elevation.

Traditional Smoked Lapsang Souchong (2024)
Recommended for:
If you’re a fan of traditional black tea with a bold pine smoke aroma and a rich, sweet flavor, this tea is for you. Produced in 2024 in Masu Village, Tongmuguan, Wuyishan, and crafted by tea master Zhang Song, it’s made using classic smoking techniques for the most authentic Lapsang Souchong experience. This tea is best enjoyed plain to fully appreciate its smoky and robust character. If you prefer lighter black teas or dislike smoky flavors, this may not be the best fit, and it’s not recommended for milk or sugar.

Product Details:

Origin: Masu Village, Tongmuguan, Wuyishan
Harvest Date: May 2024
Grade: First Grade
Tea Cultivar: Tongmuguan Xiaocai Tea
Craftsmanship: Supervised by Zhang Song, a second-generation tea master from Masu. He began learning the basics of Lapsang Souchong production as a teenager and is known for his expertise in traditional tea-making methods.
Flavor Profile: Distinct pine smoke aroma, rich sweetness, and full-bodied taste
Highlight: A must-try for anyone seeking an authentic smoked Lapsang Souchong, directly from the original region with time-honored techniques.

How to brew:

Water Temp: 212°F（or 100℃）
Tea-to-Water: 1g per 50ml
Steep Time: 20 sec for first 3 steeps, add 5 sec each time after
Teaware: White porcelain gaiwan
Re-Steep: 5-7 times

Tongmuguan Zhengshan Xiaozhong: The Original Smoky Chinese Black Tea

Zhengshan Xiaozhong, known as the world’s first black tea, originates from Tongmuguan in the Wuyi Mountains of China. This region, at an altitude of up to 1500 meters, is now a protected nature reserve, providing an ideal, untouched environment for tea cultivation. Zhengshan Xiaozhong tea from Tongmuguan is unique, not only for its specific local tea varieties and pristine mountain setting but also for its rich, 400-year-old heritage of traditional tea-making.

What truly sets this tea apart is the smoking process that gives it its signature taste. Skilled tea masters meticulously select local pine wood, particularly the resin-rich heartwood and roots, to smoke the leaves. This special wood is believed to impart a rich, natural pine resin fragrance, balanced with a subtle honey-like sweetness, creating a truly layered, unforgettable taste. Locals say that only Zhengshan Xiaozhong produced in Tongmuguan with traditional techniques captures this distinctive “pine smoke aroma with longan fruit notes.”

Outside of Tongmuguan, black teas made in the wider Wuyi Mountain area are known as "Xiaozhong black teas" but lack the same signature smoky aroma. Black teas made even farther away are simply called "Kung Fu black teas" and have a more familiar profile to Western black teas. But for those looking to experience an authentic, complex tea with deep roots in Chinese culture, Zhengshan Xiaozhong from Tongmuguan is truly one-of-a-kind.