If you have never tried Lapsang Souchong, imagine the smell of a crackling fire in the woods. Now imagine that smell emanating from a hot cup of water. That is Lapsang Souchong.
Known as one of the most pungent black teas in the world, Lapsang Souchong is a flavor of tea originating from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province. The flavor is obtained by placing the withered tea leaves over wooden fires, then sealed inside barrels to capture more of the smoky aroma. While the smell is stronger than most teas, the flavor is contained just enough to keep from being overwhelming. Due to the intensity of the scent, however, the tea is known for attracting either loving praise or complete and total distaste. Interesting enough, it was considered to be a favored tea flavor of Winston Churchill (The Story of Tea).
Daily Facts of China 