The term “Lapsang Souchong” black tea was first known in Europe as WUYI BOHEA. In Europe, especially Britain, it became a symbol of Chinese tea. Later, as trade boomed, local people needed to distinguish the real thing from other fake “Lapsang Souchong” black teas flooding the market. So, they started to name it as Lapsang Souchong.

“Lapsang” means the tea is produced in the Tongmuguan area (or other areas with the same altitude as Tongmuguan), and it must be made using the same traditional way, and it tastes like sweet as longan fruit. “Lapsang” means that the tea is the right one and correct.

“Souchong” means it’s made from small-leaf tea bushes. It also means that this special tea can only be made in this special area with its special climate. So, Lapsang Souchong is also called Tongmuguan Souchong.

Black tea was a major Chinese export in the 17th and 18th centuries. Many missionaries and traders traveled to find its source (Tongmuguan). They visited to explore and preach. Hearing the local people call it “Wu Cha” (meaning “black tea” in their dialect), they changed the old name “Bohea” to “Black Tea”, matching the meaning of “Wu” (black color).

Records show that as early as 1662, when Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza married England's King Charles II, she brought several chests of Chinese Lapsang Souchong black tea as part of her dowry. It was brought to the British royal palace. People say that the Queen's first task every morning was to brew a cup of Lapsang Souchong. This made it a highly prized treasure. Soon after, Queen Anne encouraged replacing wine with tea among the upper class. This turned Lapsang Souchong into a luxury item of the time and helped lead to the tradition of the British afternoon tea.