Lapsang Souchong Family (正山小种)

The Lapsang Souchong family represents a lineage of black teas originating from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian. This family includes both traditional pine-smoked styles and modern, unsmoked interpretations that emphasize sweetness and aroma.

Origins & Lineage

Lapsang Souchong is regarded as one of the earliest forms of black tea. Its development in the Wuyi region established key techniques that later influenced black tea production in China and beyond.

Two Main Style Directions

Traditional Smoked Style

The original expression of Lapsang Souchong is made from mature leaves and dried over pinewood fires, producing a bold, smoky character.

Modern Unsmoked Styles

Contemporary interpretations focus on aroma, sweetness, and refinement, often using buds or bud-and-leaf material without pine smoking.

Key Members of the Family

• Traditional Lapsang Souchong — pine-smoked, robust, historical
• Jin Jun Mei (金骏眉) — bud-based, honeyed, aromatic
• Yin Jun Mei (银骏眉) — leaf-and-bud, smooth, balanced

Understanding the Relationship

While Jin Jun Mei and Yin Jun Mei share geographic and technical roots with Lapsang Souchong, they are intentionally unsmoked. They represent an evolution of the style rather than a departure from it.