Smoked Zhengshan Xiaozhong Black Tea - 2012

What's so special about this tea?

Produced in Maiowan village, Tongmuguan, this 2012 vintage smoked Zhengshan Xiaozhong black tea (烟熏正山小种), known in the West as Lapsang Souchong, was crafted by an experienced tea master using century-old bush material and the traditional Zhengshan Xiaozhong method. The leaves are exposed to pine smoke during withering, drying, and re-roasting stages inside a Qinglou (青楼), the traditional multi-storey wooden smokehouse.

Smoked with Masson’s pine (马尾松), prized for its rich, resinous smoke and its role in developing the tea’s distinctive dried-longan character, this tea was produced years before the 2019 pine restrictions in Tongmuguan, representing a level of craftsmanship that is no longer easily replicated today.

What makes this lot even more precious is its intrinsic quality from the outset. Made from old bush material with strong ageing potential and handled with precise control throughout production, this Zhengshan Xiaozhong black tea already stood at a high level at the time of production. More than a decade of ageing has since elevated its character, deepening its complexity and harmony, with the smoke now fully integrated into the liquor, forming part of a richer, more cohesive aromatic profile.

The aroma opens with candied orange and delicate incense, with cocoa and dried wood forming a warm, grounding undertone. On the palate, the first impression is warm and enveloping — longan and dried persimmon intertwined with a lingering sweetness, showing hints of caramel, with cocoa and subtle smokiness in the background. The liquor is smooth and viscous, coating the tongue and slowly releasing its nuances. As the session progresses, the tea's structure gradually unfolds, giving way to a mineral quality akin to wet stone, before finishing with a cooling aftertaste reminiscent of anise.