Zhengshan Xiaozhong means 'Small Leaf Tea from Zhengshan Mountain' and represents a type of black tea made from a small leaf cultivar grown in this area of Fujian. It is commonly converted to the English phonetics of Lapsang Souchong.
But wait! This does not mean it is a smoked tea. Many people think that Lapsangs are all pine wood smoked but this method is falling out of favour. For the past ten years, high quality Lapsang is being produced unroasted while smoked tea is usually made from lower quality leaves for the foreign markets
This batch was an instant hit with us - it reminds us of the super high quality Gleaming Brow but without the eye squinting price tag. In our video about Gleaming Brow (aka Jin Jun Mei) I mention that a high quality Lapsang is a much better approximation of the fabulous chocolate and fruit taste of TRUE Gleaming Brow rather than wasting your money on lower quality Jin Jun Mei. This Souchong Liquor is the perfect example.
Full of cocoa, bourbon, nuts and fruits - this tea is the show-off Lapsang that will wow anyone. It is markedly different to the other Lapsang which we purchased from the same village called Little Tong Mu and we recommend treating yourself to a pack of both to taste how the smallest details in terroirs affects the flavour of the tea.