LAPSANG SOUCHONG(China Special Black Tea). COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China. GRADE: Special Leaf. MANUFACTURE TYPE: Orthodox. CUP CHARACTERISTICS: A smooth crisp character with the remarkable and heady aroma of a pine and oakwood fire. INFUSION: Tending bright with reddish hues. TEA INFORMATION: This special smoked tea has a distinctive flavor sometimes referred to as tarry, and is a special tea from the Wuyi mountains of Fujian. Legend claims that the smoking process was discovered by accident. During the Qing dynasty, an army unit passing through Xingcun (Star Village) camped in a tea factory filled with fresh leaves awaiting processing. When the soldiers left and the workers could get back into the premises, they realised that to arrive at market in time, it was too late to dry the leaves in the usual way. So they lit open fires of pine wood to hasten the drying. Not only did the tea reach the market in time, but the flavor created a sensation. Depending upon one’s palate the taste can be light and intriguing or it can be heavy and overpowering. Best described - it is an acquired taste.