Keemun vs Lapsang Souchong
Two Chinese black teas frequently described as smoky, only one of which is. The confusion has cost a lot of people a cup they did not want.
tea
What is being compared
Why these get confused
Keemun is described as smoky in a great deal of tea writing, which sets up exactly the wrong expectation. The note is aromatic, not from smoke.
Point by point
| Aspect | Keemun | Lapsang Souchong |
|---|---|---|
| Is it smoked | No. Keemun’s aroma includes a pine-like note that is intrinsic to the tea. | Yes, in the export style — dried over smouldering pine. |
| Where it is from | Qimen county, Anhui. | The Tongmu valley in the Wuyi mountains, Fujian. |
| Age of the tea | Created in 1875 as a deliberate commercial invention. | The oldest black tea for which a tradition is documented. |
| Flavour | Dried plum, cocoa and orchid, with a faint pine edge. | Pine smoke and tar over a sweet dried-longan base. |
| In blends | A traditional component of English breakfast blends. | Usually a component of Russian Caravan rather than breakfast blends. |
The short answer
If you want the aroma without the smoke, Keemun. Anyone who tried Lapsang and wrote off Chinese black tea should try Keemun before deciding.
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