Our fifth choice was Fujian Wuyi special Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong – “Lapsang Souchong” a beautifully smokey tea; change to our previous tastings; and indeed an excellent tea!
Some may call this tea Lapsang Souchong, but there are many differences between these two. Zheng Shan is the original lightly smoked black tea manufactured by traditional cold-smoking method over light pinewood, reserved to Chinese tea market. It is made of fresh spring tea leaves in protected area of deep mountain valley of the Wu Yi Shan. It is produced in limited quantity each spring. And it's very refreshing and delicate.
Look at our tasting notes:
Dry Leaves: Small twisted dark black tea leaves of even size with beautiful golden tips – very matt on surface, almost hairy :) With superb aroma of charcoal, smoke and pine wood.
Infused Leaves: Greenish-brown, small and sleek leaves with an aroma of moist forest ground and smoked pine wood.
Liquor: Clear and bright mandarin colour liquor with beautiful greenish rim. Aroma of toasted exotic wood with smokey notes. Cup very smooth and mellow with rich deep oak bark flavour and underlying soft and sweet peat, rose and fire. Amazingly balanced liquid with no astringency at all.
Wonderful tea for any Smokey afternoon.
