Hundred Years Lapsang Souchong Smoked Style 烟熏百年老枞小种 (2024)
Tea Profile
Type: Black Tea (Smoked Zhengshan Xiaozhong 烟熏正山小种 / Lapsang Souchong)
Location: Guwankeng Village 古碗坑村, Tongmu Guan 桐木关, Wuyishan, Fujian Province
Altitude: Around 1000 m
Cultivar: Cai Cha 菜茶 (over 100-year-old bushes)
Processing: Traditional smoke-drying in Yan Lou 烟楼 using pinewood and pine needles
Roasting Level: Full traditional smoked style
The Story of This Tea
Tongmu Guan, the birthplace of the world’s first black tea, lies in the heart of Wuyishan at an average elevation of about 1000 meters. Its valleys, mist, and clean mountain air create an environment where ancient tea trees thrive. Among them, Guwankeng Village remains one of the few places still producing authentic smoked Lapsang Souchong using traditional methods passed down for centuries.
The process takes place in a special wooden building known as a Yan Lou (烟楼), built specifically for smoking tea. The structure has two floors connected by bamboo lattices that allow heat and smoke to rise evenly. Fresh leaves are spread on the upper floor for withering, while the lower floor is used to burn a controlled fire of dry pine needles, pinewood, and resin-rich pine firewood. As the pine oil vaporizes, it gently infuses the leaves above, giving them their iconic longan and pinewood fragrance.
This batch of smoked Lapsang Souchong was crafted from old Cai Cha bushes over a century old, growing naturally in Guwankeng’s high mountain gardens. The result is a refined, deeply traditional tea. Rich yet elegant, with balanced smoke, lingering sweetness, and a soft, clean finish. It embodies the heritage and craftsmanship that define the true Tongmu style.
Aroma and Flavour
The aroma of this tea captures the essence of the Tongmu mountains. Resinous pine, gentle smoke, and ripe longan fruit. The liquor is bright amber and silky in texture. The smoke is delicate and pure, never overpowering, blending with soft fruit sweetness that lingers through the aftertaste. The combination of age-old trees and classic smoke-drying gives this tea both depth and warmth.
- Aroma: Pine smoke, longan, and light resin notes
- Flavor: Balanced smoky sweetness with hints of fruit and wood
- Texture: Smooth, soft, and delicate
- Aftertaste: Long, sweet, and lingering with clean smoke finish
- Steeping Endurance: 8–10 infusions with consistent flavour and fragrance
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Hongni 红泥 or Duanni 段泥 Yixing teapot for warmth, or porcelain gaiwan for balanced aroma
- Ratio: 6–7 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95–100 °C spring water
- Infusions: Rinse once, then brew 8–10 infusions, extending steeping time gradually
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: 95 °C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion. Resteep 2–3 times, adjusting to taste
Why Choose This Tea
This smoked Lapsang Souchong from Guwankeng Village is an authentic expression of Tongmu heritage. Made from century-old bushes and processed in a traditional Yan Lou using pinewood smoke, it reflects the craftsmanship and purity of Wuyishan’s oldest black tea methods. The balance of delicate smoke, longan sweetness, and soft texture offers a timeless taste of the original Zhengshan Xiaozhong tradition. Elegant, warming, and deeply satisfying.