WHOLLY SMOKE TEA

Reminiscent of campfires and bonfires, Wholly Smoke is Twist’s take on Lapsang Souchong, a mellow black tea with distinctly smoky tones.

What is black tea?

After water, black tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Black tea is a drink made from the oxidised leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.  First discovered in China, tea is now grown in several tropical regions across the world.

What is Lapsang Souchong black tea?

Lapsang Souchong tea is a lightly smoked Chinese black tea, typically made using larger black tea leaves that are better able to absorb the smoky flavour.  Lapsang Souchong is thought to have been produced by accident when a crop of tea leaves needed to be dried quickly to avoid spoiling during the Taipei Rebellion of the nineteenth century.  Pinewood fires were used to speed up the process and the result was a smoky black tea that proved popular with European buyers.

What are the benefits of black tea?

Aside from being the perfect drink to be consumed in just about any situation you could think of, a simple cup of black tea can also have some amazing health benefits:

• Heart health – animal studies have shown that an antioxidant present in black tea called theaflavin can help reduce cholesterol, thereby supporting your heart health.
• Blood sugar – theaflavin also helps to lower blood sugar levels, good news for those at risk of diabetes.
• Gut health – black tea has antimicrobial properties that can help improve your gut health, thereby strengthening your immune system.
• Anti-cancer properties – the polyphenols contained in black tea are thought to reduce the risk of developing cancer as they can have an inhibiting effect on cancerous cells.
• Energy boosting – black tea also contains an amino acid called L-theanine. L-theanine has been proven to help focus as it facilitates alpha activity within the brain. It is one of the main reasons as to why it is often reported that tea gives a more stable boost of energy in comparison to coffee.

Are there any side effects of black tea?

Black tea naturally contains the stimulant caffeine.  Excessive consumption (more than 4-5 cups per day) may result in symptoms including jitteriness, headache, difficulty in sleeping or an irregular heartbeat. If you think you may be sensitive to caffeine, or if you are pregnant, we recommend that you consult your healthcare professional about the quantity of black tea you should consume.

What does Wholly Smoke tea taste like?

Unmistakably smoky in both aroma and taste, Wholly Smoke tea is perfect for pairing with smoked salmon and mature cheeses. Lacking in bitterness, Wholly Smoke does not need sweetening and can be enjoyed with or without milk.

Blends with Benefits

Every Twist Tea blend is created from the finest, ethically sourced whole-leaf ingredients.  Our plastic free Wholly Smoke tea bags are hand blended in the UK and hand packed in plastic free packaging.  What sets us apart from the competition are the functional herbs, botanicals and spices added to many of our blends reputed to offer health and wellbeing benefits.

Brewing Instructions

Infuse in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Serve with or without milk.

Add some cold Wholly Smoke to a measure of whisky, a touch of maple syrup and a splash of bitters, for a fiery, smokey Old Fashioned.

Ingredients

Chinese Lapsang Souchong Black Tea

Dietary Information

Sugar free, gluten free, soya free, vegetarian, vegan, wheat free, dairy free.

Allergen Information

Packed in an environment that contains nuts.

Can’t get enough of black tea? View our other black tea blends to see how Twist takes black tea to the next level. 

Are you a commercial customer and wish to order Wholly Smoke in bulk?  Please visit our trade page for more information.