Daily Unsmoked Lapsang Souchong (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Black Tea (Unsmoked Zhengshan Xiaozhong 正山小种)
Location: Da An Yuan, Wuyishan, Fujian Province
Altitude: 800m
Harvest Date: April 2025
Cultivar: Chun Lan 春兰
The Story of This Tea
I made this tea from tender spring leaves in Da An Yuan, using two leaves and one bud from the fragrant Chun Lan cultivar. Although Chun Lan is traditionally used for Wuyi oolong, I processed this batch using our black tea craft to create an unsmoked style of Zhengshan Xiaozhong. Without pinewood smoke, the natural fragrance of the cultivar shines through. The liquor is bright and clear, the aroma rich and uplifting, and a soft mint-like coolness appears in the finish. It is a gentle, elegant black tea that I often reach for in daily life.
Aroma and Flavour
This unsmoked Chun Lan black tea opens with a sweet floral–herbal fragrance unique to the cultivar. The taste is clean and lively, with smooth sweetness and a refreshing cooling note that lifts the finish. Its clarity and balance make it especially enjoyable as an everyday cup.
- Aroma: Floral sweetness, light herbs, soft mint coolness
- Flavor: Smooth, naturally sweet, bright, gently refreshing
- Texture: Light to medium body with clean, rounded flow
- Aftertaste: Cooling and sweet, with lingering clarity
- Steeping Endurance: 7 to 9 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Zini 紫泥 Yixing teapot for warmth and depth, or a porcelain gaiwan for clarity
- Ratio: 3.5 to 4 g per 100 to 110 ml water
- Water: 85 to 90°C spring water. Boiling water is suitable for a stronger cup
- Infusions: Rinse once, then steep 7 to 9 times, extending the time gradually
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3 to 4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: 90 to 95°C
- Steeping: 2 to 3 minutes for the first infusion, then resteep 2 to 3 times with slightly longer timings
Why Choose This Tea
Made from Chun Lan spring leaves in Da An Yuan and crafted into an unsmoked Zhengshan Xiaozhong, this black tea offers floral sweetness, clarity, and a gentle cooling finish. It captures the natural fragrance of the cultivar while remaining smooth and approachable, making it an excellent daily companion and a distinctive expression of Wuyi black tea craftsmanship.