Aged Lapsang Souchong Black Tea from the 1950s

Description

This Aged Lapsang Souchong Black Tea spans back to the 1950s during a critical Black Tea making period following World War 2. This cultivar has a very smoky and deep reddish black color. It is one of the rarest black teas on earth and is available in very limited supply.

Tea masters achieve the uniquely smoky flavors of Lapsang Souchong by drying the tea over pinewood fires. The tea leaves absorb aromatic compounds from the pine, giving the tea its distinctive campfire aroma and flavor. Some tea enthusiasts find the smoke to be too intense, as it can override the typical malty and sweet notes of black tea.

The aging process changes that, though. By resting Lapsang Souchong in a dry-storage state, tea masters can control how the flavor develops. The strong smoky aromas soften after a few years. As a result, notes of dried fruit and wild honey begin to appear.

Lapsang Souchong doesn’t age in the same way as Puerh, but it still benefits from the aging process.