Lapsong Suchong Tea?

Question

I tried this at a Japanese Tea House and found it had a slightly bitter taste, is this normal? How is this tea supposed to taste?

Answer 1

Well you were served the right thing, did you find it a bit smokey and have a tarry flavour, it is smoked over a wood fires before it is fermented giving it a richer more full bodied flavour, I have both it and when I was a chef used it for tea smoked duck/chicken.

It is a black tea and is prized in Chinas as it is a noblity tea, it can be a bit of a shock the first time as we all expect the mild flavour from our regular based teas.