Lapsang Souchong Original Smoked

Lapsang souchong original smoked

Lapsang Souchong is a smoked black tea from Tongmu Village in the Wuyi Mountains, Fujian province, China. The leaves are dried over pinewood fires, which gives the tea its distinctive smoky character — something you won't find in any other type of tea.

In the cup, it's smoky but not one-dimensional. There's a creamy body underneath with honey-like sweetness that rounds out the smoke. One customer described it as an "umami bomb" that reminded him of smoked beef jerky — and that's a fair comparison. If you enjoy whisky, campfire cooking, or anything with that rich smoky depth, you'll probably enjoy this.

We carry the traditional smoked version alongside our Lapsang Souchong Floral, which skips the smoking process entirely and has a lighter, sweeter character. They're quite different teas despite sharing a name, and trying both side by side is a good way to understand the range of what Lapsang Souchong can be.

Brewing guide

Western style: Use 1.5g per 250ml with 90°C water. Steep 3 minutes. Good for up to 4 infusions — the smoke softens and the sweetness comes forward in later brews.

Gongfu style: Use 4g per 150ml gaiwan or teapot. Pre-warm the vessel. Start with 15-second steeps for the first 5 infusions, then add 10 seconds from the sixth. You can get up to 15 infusions. Brewing in a gaiwan really concentrates the smoky aroma — one of our customers mentioned it was the best way to experience this tea.

Tea profile

Taste: Smoky, creamy, honey-scented
Type: Black tea
Origin: Tongmu Village, Wuyi Mountains, Fujian, China
Oxidation: 85-100% — fully oxidized
TCM Property: Warm (温性) — warming, suits cooler weather
Harvest: Spring 2024
Caffeine: High
Ingredients: 100% loose tea leaves. No artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

Storage

Keep in an airtight container, away from light and moisture. Stored well, this tea holds its character for a long time.

About black tea

Black tea is fully oxidised, which gives it deeper colour and bolder flavour than green or white teas. Browse our full black tea collection to find one that suits you, or visit our morning tea picks — all our black teas work well as a morning cup.

Joanne's tip

This tea comes up a lot as a gift — one customer bought it for a friend who drinks whisky, and apparently it was a hit. I've noticed people who enjoy bold, smoky flavours tend to take to Lapsang straight away, even if they're not usually tea drinkers. If you're not sure about the smoke, start with our 5g sample ($10) and see how you go.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Lapsang Souchong come from?
Ours comes from Tongmu Village in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian, China, the original home of Lapsang Souchong. The leaves are dried over pinewood fires, which is where the smoke comes from.

What does smoked Lapsang Souchong taste like?
Smoky up front, with a creamy body and honey-like sweetness underneath. People who enjoy whisky, campfire cooking or smoky flavours usually take to it straight away. If you're unsure, start with the 5g sample ($10).

What's the difference between smoked and floral Lapsang Souchong?
The smoked version is dried over pine fire. Our Lapsang Souchong Floral skips smoking entirely and is lighter and sweeter, quite a different tea despite the shared name. Our Smoked vs Floral guide compares them side by side.

Does Lapsang Souchong have caffeine?
Yes. It's a fully oxidised black tea, so caffeine is on the higher side. It works better as a morning or afternoon cup than late in the evening.

How do I brew Lapsang Souchong?
Western style: 1.5g per 250ml at 90°C for 3 minutes. Gongfu style: 4g in a 150ml gaiwan with short steeps, up to 15 infusions. The full brewing guide is above.

Do you ship Lapsang Souchong in Australia?
Yes. We ship Australia-wide from our Hobart tea shop, and you can buy it in person at our Salamanca Tea Bar.