Lapsang Souchong

Details

• Origin: China
• Ingredients: lapsang souchong, organic beetroot sugar, water, kombucha culture.
• Unpasteurized, unfiltered, naturally carbonated, bottle aged.
• Tasting notes: oak, citrus, tobacco smoke, whisky, pine
• Pair with: grilled red meat, octopus, oysters, blue cheese, poached fruits
• 75cl Bottle / Caffeine 19mg/100gr / Sugar 0gr/100gr / ABV 2.5%

Awards

Bronze - World Kombucha Award 2024 - Black tea category

Bronze - International Wine and Spirit Competition 2023

History

The somewhat divided history brings back the accidental creation of Lapsang souchong around 1820 in Fujian. One legend tells that, forced by government authorities to free his warehouse but not wanting to lose his freshly harvested crop, a tea producer placed the leaves over a fire of spruce wood. While initially not to the taste of local consumers, the tea gained unexpected popularity thanks to a foreign merchant who was enchanted by its smoky flavor and introduced it to Europe. The manufacturing process of Lapsang Souchong mirrors that of red teas, with the exception that after rolling, the leaves are lightly toasted on a hot iron plate, then carefully arranged on racks above a fire of pine root or spruce.

Design

The yōkai 妖 怪, «spirit», «ghost», «demon», «strange apparition») are a type of supernatural creatures in Japanese folklore. They are often depicted as evil or simply mischievous spirits demonstrating daily or unusual hassles through behaviours that ranges from mischief to malice. Occasionally, they bring luck or bad luck to those they meet. Yōkai derives from Chinese: 妖 怪; pinyin: yāoguài; literally «bizarre monster». As Brindi suggested, naturally the choice was to focus on the Chochin Obake represented by a friendly cyclope smoking paper lantern, inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s One Hundred Ghost Stories.

• Drawing: Brindi Tattoo
• Design: Tegroeg Studio
• Video: Charles Villeneuve