Casual gongfu. White2Tea states traditional lapsang souchong is not smoked but there is a definite smokey element to this one. It has a fermented berries and dry pine smoke aroma to the dry leaf but that doesn’t necessarily push through in taste all that much. The bright and rich flavor is like a cross between apricot brandy and mildly smokey, peaty whisky. There are notes of sweet potato, raisin and pine early moving later into leather-straw with a hint of malt. Highly mineral and mouth-watering with a cleansing, balanced astringency. Boozy cream finish. Great longevity for a hongcha, as it seems a lot of the black teas coming out of Wuyi exhibit.
Flavors: Alcohol, Apricot, Berries, Brandy, Campfire, Cranberry, Cream, Leather, Malt, Mineral, Peat, Pine, Raisins, Scotch, Straw, Sweet Potatoes
