Pantenger organic Lapsang Souchong is a black tea scented with smoke. The tea is handpicked and placed on bamboo baskets over pine wood smoke. The smoke impregnates the tea leaves and gives the smoky character. The liquor is orangey copper in color and the body is medium-heavy. Pantenger’s Lapsang Souchong tea is organically grown in the Wuyi Mountains in the province of Fujian where this tea originated. The flavor is smoky and has a fresh pine aftertaste. About Lapsang Souchong Wuyi Shan was a small village in the province of Fujian surrounded by mountains and a forest of bamboo, tea, pines and cypresses. The economy was based on the production of oolong tea and bamboo. In 1645, a battalion of the Qing Dynasty Emperor was crossing the Wuyi Mountains and was expected to spend the night in the village. The farmers, in a desperate action to save the harvested fresh tea leaves and to prevent them from being stolen from the soldiers, dried the tea with pine fire, covered the tea with cloth and hid it in holes in the ground. Once the soldiers left the village they opened the tea and discovered that it had become smoky and oxidized black tea. They thought it was ruined. They offered the smoky black tea to Dutch merchants that were buying black tea to sell in Europe. The Dutch were delighted with this smoky tea and the following year they returned to Wuyi Shan to buy more tea. The villagers replicated the process and soon it became a favourite in Europe and later in America. Lapsang Souchong tea is loved by tea connoisseurs in America and Europe. It was first exported from China by the Dutch in 1645. Winston Churchill and fictional character Sherlock Holmes are among its most famous devotees. Brewing a perfect cup: A great cup of tea requires three elements: great tea, water and a tea master (you). The right amount of tea is 1 teaspoon (2 to 3 grams) / 6 Fl. Oz. of water (200°F – 212°F). Lapsang Souchong tea is best when rinsed before the first cup. Brew for 20 to 40 seconds. Drain the tea. Brew for 2 to 3 minutes. This tea allows many brews. Add 10 seconds to each subsequent infusion. Ingredients: Organic Black Tea USDA Organic certified by OTCO Kosher certified by OU Non-GMO Gluten Free Vegan
