Non-smoky Lapsang Souchong Wild Black Tea

A young monk asked the wise tea master Lao Cha:

– Oh my, Teacher, what is this great tea we are drinking?!

– It's the father of all the Red Teas – Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong. This tea comes from the famous Wuyi Mountain in Fujian, where it grows wild, covered from the harsh sun by rich forest and year-round mist. Pay respect to its rich history while enjoying its sweet taste and longans aroma.

Lapsang Souchong, also known as Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, is the oldest black tea in the world. However, it differs greatly from our Wild Smoky Lapsang Souchong black tea. Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong wild black tea is not smoky at all but instead possesses a unique sweetness and depth of flavor like no other.

Growing wild in the original birthplace of black tea – the Wuyi Mountains, the tea bushes enjoy rich forests, heavy mist, and the freshest mountain water. They form a symbiosis with other native plant species that assists the survival and thriving of all species. Additionally, the high altitude blocks the development of plant diseases. Thus, the trees do not require fertilization or pesticide usage. Trimming and cutting are also not practiced. The wild plants (Ye Sheng) have a well-developed vertical root system reaching deep into the ground. It absorbs the rich nutrients that form the unique flavor of this wild Chinese black tea.

Our Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong wild black tea has a unique aroma of dried longans. The brew is continuously smooth, without the slightest hint of astringency. We are truly proud to carry this rare and remarkable tea. A sip alone is sure to leave a strong impression on any connoisseur.

Today's market is flooded with tea, calling itself Zhengshan Xiaozhong. However, the core production area of this special kind of black tea is tiny. It comprises 12 villages within the Tongmu Guan area in Wu Yi Mountain. The Tongmu village in the center of this area was the birthplace of black tea almost 400 years ago. Today, it is an area of protected designation of origin (PDO).

The farmers maintain the authentic way of processing the tea leaves for this Wild Lapsang Souchong to this day. They pick them in the morning and spread them to wither in the shade. After that, they roll them for a long time till the juice starts to ooze out of the leaves. They then leave the tea masse to oxidize for hours before the final drying stage. The result is a tea with a complex sweet taste, hiding honey and ripe fruit notes. It pairs with a mellow, rich mouthfeel and a long, satisfying finish.

The signature fragrance of dried longan fruit can be traced only to Zhengshan Xiaozhong, which grows in the core production area of Tongmu Guan. The rest of the Xiaozhong black tea only has sweet potato aroma notes. Our Wild Lapsang Souchong grows 1300m up in the WuYi Mountain, at the heart of Tongmu Guan. It carries the traditional craft and authentic taste of Chinese black tea at its best.