Masu Old Bush Lapsang Souchong 麻粟老枞小种 (2026)
Tea Profile
Type: Black Tea (Zhengshan Xiaozhong 正山小种 / Lapsang Souchong)
Location: Masu Village 麻粟村, Tongmu Guan 桐木关, Wuyishan, Fujian
Altitude: Approx. 1,300 m
Harvest Date: May 20, 2026
Cultivar: Cai Cha 菜茶 (Qun Ti Zhong 群体种)
Age of Tea Trees: Over 100 years
Leaf Material: Mature old-bush leaves
The Story of This Tea
Masu Village lies deep within the Wuyishan National Nature Reserve and is one of the historic tea-producing settlements of Tongmu Guan. At approximately 1,300 metres elevation, the climate is cool and exposed, with cold winds and winter conditions that can include frost and snow. Tea bushes grow slowly here among bamboo, forest vegetation and rocky mountain terrain.
This 2026 Zhengshan Xiaozhong is made from Cai Cha 菜茶 trees more than 100 years old. The old bushes grow naturally within Masu’s forested environment, developing slowly under the demanding high-mountain conditions. Their mature leaf material gives this tea a deeper, more substantial character than styles made from very tender spring picking.
One of the most distinctive characteristics associated with old-bush Masu tea is a throat sensation locally described as dùn hóu 遁喉. A brief herbal bitterness appears first, then changes into a cooling sweetness that settles in the throat and continues long after swallowing. This combination of bitterness, cooling sensation and returning sweetness is an important part of the character we look for in Masu material.
Compared with our Chigan, which is made from younger, more tender leaves, this Laocong Xiaozhong 老枞小种 uses more mature material from century-old bushes. The result is greater depth, stronger returning sweetness and a more pronounced old-bush character, with fir wood and bamboo-leaf aromatics at the centre of the cup.
Aroma and Flavour
This tea reflects the strength and clarity of Masu’s high-mountain environment. The fragrance immediately suggests fir wood and fresh bamboo leaves, accompanied by the deeper woody character associated with old-bush material.
The liquor is bright golden-red, clear and lively. It enters the mouth smooth and sweet, with a thick, substantial texture. A gentle herbal bitterness provides structure without becoming harsh, before changing into the cooling sweetness that defines its dùn hóu character.
As the session develops, the woody and bamboo notes become more integrated and the returning sweetness grows increasingly apparent. The finish remains cool, clean and persistent, with sweetness continuing in the throat through repeated infusions.
- Aroma: Fir wood, bamboo leaf and deep old-bush woody fragrance
- Flavour: Sweet, refreshing and layered, with gentle herbal bitterness and substantial depth
- Texture: Thick, smooth and rich with a full, structured mouthfeel
- Aftertaste: Long-lasting huigan 回甘 with the distinctive cooling dùn hóu 遁喉 sensation
- Liquor: Bright golden-red, crystal clear and lively
- Steeping Endurance: 8–10 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Porcelain gaiwan for clarity, or Hongni 红泥 or Duanni 段泥 Yixing teapot to emphasise sweetness and roundness
- Ratio: 7–8 g per 100–110 ml water
- Water: 95–100 °C, ideally spring water
- Infusions: Brief rinse; begin with short infusions and gradually extend through 8–10 brews
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 95 °C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion; resteep 2–3 times, extending the brewing time slightly with each infusion
Why Choose This Tea
This 2026 Masu Old Bush Zhengshan Xiaozhong is a deep and powerful expression of high-mountain Tongmu black tea. Made from Cai Cha trees more than 100 years old at approximately 1,300 metres, it combines mature old-bush material with the distinctive character of Masu’s cool, forested environment.
Its fir and bamboo-leaf fragrance, thick texture and gentle herbal bitterness create a very different experience from lighter, more tender styles of Zhengshan Xiaozhong. Most distinctive is the transition from that initial herbal note into persistent huigan 回甘 and the cooling throat sensation known locally as dùn hóu 遁喉.
For those exploring the range of Tongmu black tea, this is particularly interesting alongside our Masu Chigan. Chigan emphasises tender-leaf fragrance, nectar sweetness and aromatic clarity, while this old-bush Xiaozhong offers greater depth, woodiness, texture and returning sweetness. Together they show how different picking standards can reveal very different expressions of the same remarkable Masu terroir.