Lapsang Souchong tea was originally a clever solution to a complex problem. During China’s Qing dynasty, the passage of armies in the Wuyi mountains delayed the annual drying of tea leaves. To speed up processing of this black tea, producers dried the leaves over pine wood fires, giving Organic Lapsang Souchong its distinct smoky aroma and flavour.

It’s kind of too bad that Lapsang Souchong is a tea that can be a bit polarizing. It’s loved by some and not so much by others. However, nothing says fireplace in a cup more than Lapsang Souchong. It’s the perfect pair-up of your not-going-anywhere clothes with a great book or a deep convo.

Organic Lapsang Souchong is a Bold Tea, with about 45mg of caffeine. That’s still about a third that of coffee. It’s best without milk, maybe a dash of honey or agave to sweeten if desired.