Masu Cinnamon

Tea: Old Bush Unsmoked Lapsang Souchong (Zhongshan Xiaozhong)
Type: Tongmuguan Black Tea (hongcha)
Cultivar: Xiaozhong
Harvest:  May, 2024
Region: Masu Village, Tongmuguan, Fujian
Producer: Zhang Family

The large leaves of this old bush Lapsang Souchong are sugary sweet to the smell.  Made in the new production method (without smoke) the natural spicy sweetness of this tea shines through.  When warmed, the leaves smell like cinnamon stewed fruit with other mulling pieces in the mix.  The brew is a rich amber, and the mouthfeel is thick and comfortable.  The tea has a deep body that is mineral rich and full of layers that bloom and develops throughout the session.  In lieu of the pine-smoke undernotes of the traditionally processed Lapsang Souchong, this unsmoked Lapsang has a clean, sweet baked huigan that lingers at the back of the throat.

As is characteristic of the Masu Village black teas, the leaves are large and rough.  This is a point of pride in the hundred year plus history of tea production in this village, their teas are identifiable at a glance.  The Masu village is located 1250 meters above the main Tongmuguan, and is a very small and isolated village.  The Zhang family has been producing Zhongshan Xiaozhong (Lapsang Souchong) for more than 5 generations, and every member of the family is trained in the processing (sons and daughters both).  This region, the village, the farmers, producers, and makers check every one of our sourcing tea boxes.

Check out all the offerings from the Zhang family, and watch the youtube video about our sourcing trip and their production methods!