Organic Lapsang Souchong Black Tea

Among the most distinctive black teas in the world, Lapsang Souchong holds a place entirely its own. Instantly recognizable, it captivates with its deep, smoky fragrance, born of a centuries-old Chinese tradition in which leaves are gently dried over smoldering pine fires.

At Thés & Traditions, this tea has earned its place as a beloved classic among those who seek character in their cup. We selected it in an organic version for its rare balance between smoky intensity and a smooth, rounded finish. To discover more about this singular style, take a look at our Lapsang Souchong guide.

Julien Huot, founder of Thés & Traditions, chose this tea for its ability to tell a story from the very first sip. Explore our Chinese teas to continue this sensory journey.

The aromatic profile of Lapsang Souchong

This Chinese smoked tea is set apart by an olfactory signature that is immediately unmistakable. The moment you open the packet, a powerful scent of woodsmoke rises up, evoking winter evenings and pine forests.

Top notes: bold pine smoke, resinous and lightly camphor-tinged aromas. This first impression, intense and enveloping, calls to mind warm bark and the crackling of a hearth. It is the tea's defining character, the quality that makes it recognizable among all other black teas in the world.

Heart notes: dry wood, gentle spice and a hint of leather unfold on the palate. The liquor gradually reveals a rounder, almost chocolatey quality, where the smoke softens to unveil the structure of the underlying black tea.

Base notes: a long, lightly sweet finish, with accents of blonde tobacco and dried fruit. The balance between smoky intensity and natural sweetness is the hallmark of this exceptional tea.

The liquor, a deep amber-brown, offers a silky roundness without excessive bitterness. Contrary to common assumption, a well-crafted smoked black tea never assaults the palate: it wraps around it, suggests, lingers. This is a tea for contemplation as much as for the table.

The dry leaves, long and twisted, range from dark brown to near-black, a sign of careful oxidation. Once wet, they release their full aromatic force within seconds, reflecting a quality raw material and a mastered smoking process.

This depth of flavor also explains why Lapsang Souchong has found its way into the kitchen. Acclaimed chefs use it to perfume marinades, broths and slow-cooked meats, much like a liquid smoking wood. A few steeped leaves can transform a sauce base or a dessert cream into a signature creation, playing on the interplay between sweetness and smoke.

If you'd like to explore other facets of the Chinese tea tradition, try our Pi Lo Chun green tea with its delicate vegetal notes, or our yellow tea, rarer still and full of finesse.

How to brew Lapsang Souchong

Brewing a Lapsang Souchong requires little equipment, but a few precise details make all the difference in bringing out its full aromatic potential. Here are the four key parameters to keep in mind for a perfect cup every time.

Water: bring a low-mineral water to 100°C, just at a rolling boil. Heavily calcified water will mask the woody nuances. A temperature-controlled kettle makes this easy, but a saucepan works just as well if you remove it from the heat as soon as the first large bubbles appear.

Dosage: use 12 to 15 grams of leaves per litre, roughly one heaped tablespoon for a large 300 ml cup. The exact amount depends on your preference: 12 g for a gentler smoke, 15 g for a more assertive intensity.

Steeping time: steep for 3 to 5 minutes depending on the strength you're looking for. Three minutes for a more refined approach, five minutes for a full-bodied character that pairs beautifully with a hearty breakfast or smoked meat. Beyond that, the tannins take over and unbalance the cup.

Vessel: cast iron, thick porcelain or a Chinese gaiwan, the material matters less than its ability to retain heat. For a more traditional experience, our guide to choosing the ideal Chinese tea service will help you decide.

Remove the leaves as soon as steeping is complete to stop the extraction. A second infusion is entirely possible with this type of tea: simply add 30 seconds to the previous time, and discover a softer profile where woody notes take precedence over smoke. For many enthusiasts, this second cup is the favorite.

On cold days, this tea pairs wonderfully with dried fruit desserts, aged cheeses and slow-cooked dishes. Its boldness makes it ideal in the morning, but equally fitting alongside a substantial meal. For pairing ideas in cooler seasons, our winter black tea recipes offer plenty of inspiration.

Some enthusiasts also explore cold-brew preparations: 20 g per litre of cold water, steeped for 8 hours in the refrigerator. The result is surprisingly fresh and subtly smoky, almost briny, perfect as an aperitif or alongside marinated salmon. Another way to discover this tea well beyond the classic cup.

Storing your Lapsang Souchong

Keep your leaves in an airtight, opaque tin, away from light, heat and strong odors. As this tea is itself highly aromatic, store it away from your other teas to avoid inadvertently infusing them with its scent.

Under the right conditions, it will keep for up to 24 months without losing its smoky character. Avoid the refrigerator, where moisture would compromise the quality of the leaf. A dark shelf at room temperature remains the ideal way to preserve this great Chinese tea.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lapsang Souchong?
Lapsang Souchong is a traditional Chinese black tea whose leaves are dried over pine wood fires. This ancient process gives it its characteristic smoky, woody and resinous notes, making it the most celebrated of all smoked teas.

How do you brew Lapsang Souchong?
Use water at 100°C, measure out 12 to 15 g of leaves per litre, and steep for 3 to 5 minutes depending on the desired strength. Strain the leaves immediately after steeping. A second infusion is perfectly possible with a slightly extended steeping time.

What are the benefits of Lapsang Souchong?
This black tea is appreciated above all for its unique sensory profile: its enveloping smokiness, woody notes and smooth finish make it a deeply comforting cup, ideal in the morning for a quiet, contemplative moment.

Where can I buy organic Lapsang Souchong?
Thés & Traditions selects an organic Lapsang Souchong from China, chosen for its balance between smoky intensity and woody finesse. Savor it as part of your morning ritual, and explore our other Chinese teas to continue the journey.

What is the origin of Lapsang Souchong?
Lapsang Souchong originates from China, where the tradition of pine wood smoking stretches back several centuries. It is this unique expertise that gives the tea its inimitable aromatic identity, now recognized as a benchmark in the world of smoked black teas.