Чай лапсанг сушонг

Origin and name

Lapsang souchong originated in the Wuyi Mountains during the Qing dynasty, although there are earlier examples of smoked teas. It is considered a Wuyi tea, or bohea. The trade name lapsang souchong comes from the Fuzhou dialect: la means 'pine' and sang means 'wood', while souchong means 'small sort' and refers to the leaves used. Before lapsang came into use, the term smoky souchong was used to describe this tea.

Aroma chemistry

The aroma of lapsang souchong is derived from a variety of chemical compounds. The two most abundant constituents of the aroma are longifolene and α-terpineol. Many of the compounds in the aroma, including longifolene, originate only in the pine smoke and are not found in other kinds of tea.

The unsmoked version

Beginning in the early 21st century, an unsmoked variety of lapsang souchong was developed in the village of Tong Mu Guan in the Wuyi mountains. The unsmoked variety has become increasingly popular, particularly in the Chinese domestic market.

Preparation

Lapsang souchong is typically brewed, like other black teas, with water at or a little below boiling, 95 °C (203 °F). It can be infused once for 3 to 5 minutes, with 2 to 3 grams of loose-leaf tea per 150 millilitres of water. The tea lacks the bitterness that can come with other black teas, so it does not need to be sweetened and can be brewed strongly. It is a full-bodied tea that can be prepared with or without milk.

Blends and cooking

Lapsang souchong is blended into black teas to give a fuller body and a stronger aroma, and it may be combined with Earl Grey tea. In the kitchen, it goes into stock for soups, stews and sauces and is used as a spice or seasoning.

History

An alternative story says that soldiers during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) interfered with tea processing by using sacks of freshly picked leaves as bedding, delaying the drying, which then had to be hastened with heat from a pinewood-fuelled fire. The British East India Company included Souchong teas among its common imports to colonial America. In the Boston Tea Party, 35 chests of Souchong tea were destroyed. In British culture, lapsang souchong has been popularly associated with Winston Churchill, who enjoyed the tea.

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