Bamboo Forest Lapsang Souchong 竹林小种 (2025)

Tea Profile

Type: Black Tea (Zhengshan Xiaozhong, 正山小种 / Lapsang Souchong)
Location: Guanping Village 关坪村, Tongmuguan 桐木关, Wuyishan
Altitude: Around 1300m
Harvest Date: May 6th, 2025
Cultivar: Qizhong 齐种
Age of Tea Trees: Around 50 years

The Story of This Tea

This Zhengshan Xiaozhong comes from Guanping Village in Tongmuguan, the historic birthplace of the world’s first black tea. The tea bushes, around 50 years old, grow at an altitude of 1300 meters in gardens surrounded by bamboo forests. The cool climate, high mountain mist, and pure ecosystem create a tea that is refined, smooth, and deeply connected to its origin.

Qizhong is a traditional local variety that is less commonly seen today, but it produces teas with an elegant fragrance and a subtle mountain energy (yun), distinct from more aromatic wild or flowery Lapsang Souchongs.

Aroma and Flavour

• Aroma: Gentle bamboo leaf fragrance with elegant mountain notes

• Flavour: Smooth, sweet, and refreshing with a restrained elegance

• Texture: Soft and pure, coating the mouth with clean sweetness

• Aftertaste: Lingering, refreshing, with a refined Tongmu character

• Liquor: Bright golden-red, clear and lively

This tea does not aim for the flamboyant floral or fruity aromas of other styles, but instead presents a quiet and noble character — an understated yet memorable Tongmu black tea.

Brewing Guidelines

Gong Fu Style

• Teaware: Porcelain gaiwan or glass teapot

• Ratio: 6–7g per 100ml water

• Water: 90–95°C spring water

• Infusions: Rinse once, then brew 6–8 times, lengthening steeps gradually

Western Style

• Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot

• Ratio: 3–4g per 250ml water

• Water: 90–95°C

• Steeping: 2–3 minutes first infusion, resteep 2–3 times

Why Choose This Tea

• High mountain origin: 1300m elevation in Tongmuguan’s pristine reserve

• Rare cultivar: Made from Qizhong, a traditional variety not often produced today

• Elegant character: Bamboo leaf aroma and smooth, refreshing sweetness

• Authentic Tongmu flavour: A refined expression of Zhengshan Xiaozhong heritage

Qizhong Zhengshan Xiaozhong is an elegant and subtle black tea, perfect for those who appreciate refinement, smoothness, and the authentic mountain essence of Tongmu.