Lapsang souchong Lapsang souchong Lapsang souchong (; ), sometimes referred to as smoked tea (熏茶), is a black tea ("Camellia sinensis") that is originally from the mountainous Wuyi region in the province of Fujian in China. It is distinct from other types of tea, as the leaves are traditionally smoke-dried over pinewood fires, imparting a distinctive flavor of smoky pine. "Xiǎozhǒng" or "Siu2 zung2" (小種) refers to the larger, coarser tea leaves that are found lower on the branch. Lapsang souchong is a member of the Bohea family of teas, but is not an Oolong tea, as most Bohea teas are. ("Bohea"
Lapsang souchong a marketable product from these less desirable leaves. The leaves are roasted in a bamboo basket called a hōnglóng (), which is heated over burning firewood, which contributes to the dried longan aroma and smoky flavour. Pinewood is used as the firewood for lapsang souchong and imparts the characteristic resiny aroma and taste. The aroma of lapsang souchong is derived from a variety of chemical compounds. The two most abundant constituents of the aroma are longifolene and α-terpineol. Many of the compounds making up the aroma of lapsang souchong, including longifolene, originate only in the pine smoke and are not