subject: Lapsang Souchong Tea – Going Beyond the Limits of Tea [print this page] Lapsang Souchong Tea Going Beyond the Limits of Tea
In today's world, tea drinkers seek far more than the average tea could offer and the Lapsang Souchong tea can deliver exactly that.
The Lapsang Souchong tea is black tea by nature. It can be obtained in the form of black tea leaves, black tea powder or black tea bags. However it is presented, Lapsang Souchong tea is always one of the best finds when it comes to looking for the world's mostextraordinary beverage.
The Lapsang Souchong tea is a black tea that originated from the Wuyi region of the Chinese province of Fujian. It is called the smoked tea because its leaves are generally smoke-dried over pinewood fires giving it a smoky flavor. There is quite an adventure story behind the origin of the Lapsang Souchong tea. It is believed that it was created during the Qing era. The annual drying of the tea on the hills of Wuyi was always interrupted by the crossing of soldiers. For this reason, producers of the tea demanded the workers to smoke-dry them instead using local pine woods. This gives the tea a strong smoky flavor that complements the natural taste of the black tea.
The best part about this unique blend of tea is the whole tea experience doesn't only end once you empty your cup. The Lapsang Souchong tea is versatile and can be used in many ways besides drinking. It can be used as a marinade for roasted meat, a flavor enhancer for ice cream as well as with salty and spicy dishes.
If you are curious about the process of making Lapsang Souchong tea, here's how:
1. Harvesting begins in the second week of May where mature leaves are picked to produce Lapsang.
2. To begin the withering process, the leaves are spread over smoldering pine, oak or cypress tea embers.
3. Next, they are pan fried, rolled and placed in wooden barrels to trigger oxidation that will give its sweet aroma and color.
4. Lastly, they are hung over an oak, pine or cypress smoke to dry the leaves. This last process gives the tea its characteristic flavor.
Like all teas, the Lapsang Souchong tea boasts of its own list of healthy benefits such as:
It promotes healthy weight loss. The antioxidant property of tea combined with caffeine makes this possible as it will help speed up your metabolism. It will also aid in the quick burning of fats and building muscles and because it has caffeine, you will go about your day fully energized.
It helps fight certain types of cancer. The combination of catechins, polyphenols and vitamins aids in preventing free radicals from destroying your DNA and lessens the growth of cancer cells.
It protects your heart, lower your blood pressure and maintain sugar levels.
It can be a substitute for caffeine. Instead of drinking strong coffee with higher caffeine content to keep you awake, make the Lapsang Souchong tea your substitute. It has lesser caffeine but enough to keep your mind alert. One great thing about caffeine in tea is that it is constantly released in your system throughout the day so you will feel energetic.
The tasty Lapsang Souchong tea may just be the best black tea you will ever find. The combination of taste, aroma, health benefits and other uses of this tea will give you more than you bargained for.
