Harvest Location: Tongmuguan, Wuyishan, China
Harvest Date: Spring 2025
Cultivar: Wuyi Cai Cha
Elevation: 800m
 
Lapsang Souchong aka Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong is a black tea originally from the Wuyi region of the Chinese province of Fujian. Its literal translation is 'Original Mountain Small Kind'. Only tea leaves picked from the area of Wuyishan Mountain, centering in Tongmuguan can be called "Zheng Shan". The leaves are traditionally smoke-dried over pinewood fires, taking on a distinctive smoky flavor, although the range of smokiness varies from barely noticeable to extremely smoky.
 
“Lao Cong” (老丛) means “old tea bushes.” This Lao Cong Lapsang Souchong red tea is crafted from leaves harvested from semi-wild tea bushes over 30 years old, growing naturally in Tong Mu Guan, 
 
Tea made from these semi-wild old bushes is notably rich in mineral content, resulting in a liquor with depth, thickness, and a long-lasting finish. The flavor profile is layered and persistent, with a lingering aftertaste that unfolds slowly on the palate. Compared with teas produced from cultivated tea gardens, Lao Cong Lapsang Souchong offers a distinctly different and more profound drinking experience, reflecting the character of its old bushes and pristine mountain environment.