Product Overview
Nonpareil Lapsang Souchong is a refined expression of this classic Fujian black tea style, made with carefully selected tea leaves and a more aroma-focused approach to processing. Rather than relying on the heavy pine-smoke character traditionally associated with Lapsang Souchong, this tea is crafted to highlight the natural fragrance and sweetness of the leaves. The result is an elegant, aromatic black tea with pronounced floral and fruity notes, a bright liquor, and a clean, lingering finish.
The dry leaves are neatly twisted into slender, well-formed strips, with a dark, lustrous appearance typical of carefully processed black tea. The leaves show good uniformity and a relatively refined structure rather than the coarse, broken appearance often found in inexpensive everyday Lapsang Souchong. After brewing, the leaves gradually open and reveal soft, reddish-brown leaves with good vitality.
The tea is produced through the traditional stages of black tea manufacture, including withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying. Careful control during withering and oxidation allows the tea to develop its characteristic fruity sweetness and floral fragrance, while the final drying process stabilizes the aroma and gives the finished tea its clean, polished character. It is deliberately made without the heavy traditional smoking treatment, allowing the character of the tea leaves themselves to remain at the forefront.
Once brewed, the liquor is remarkably clear and bright, ranging from amber-red to a deep reddish amber depending on the strength of the infusion. The aroma is immediately expressive, with layers of floral fragrance, ripe fruit, dried fruit, and a gentle honey-like sweetness. The flavor is smooth and rounded, with enough body to make the tea satisfying without becoming heavy or rough. As the tea cools, the floral and fruity character becomes even easier to appreciate, followed by a naturally sweet and lingering aftertaste.
This is not an ordinary, mass-market Lapsang Souchong whose character depends mainly on a strong smoky aroma. Its appeal lies in the quality of the leaf, careful processing, clarity of flavor, and the balance between fragrance and body. It offers a more delicate and sophisticated side of Lapsang Souchong, making it especially suitable for tea drinkers who enjoy aromatic Chinese black teas and prefer floral and fruity complexity over pronounced smoke.
Brewing Guide: For Gongfu brewing, we recommend using about 5g of tea with 100–120ml of water at around 90–95°C (194–203°F). Start with short infusions of approximately 5–8 seconds and gradually extend the steeping time with subsequent infusions. Using slightly below-boiling water and relatively short steeps helps preserve the delicate floral and fruity aromas while keeping the liquor smooth and sweet. For Western-style brewing, use 3–4g of tea per 250–300ml of water and steep for about 3–4 minutes. The tea also works very well as a cold brew: use approximately 5g per 500ml of cold water and refrigerate for 6–8 hours for a particularly smooth, sweet, and fruit-forward cup.