Obviously I have too much tea in my tea tote, because hidden in the bottom was a package of Keemun. It was such a pleasant surprise on Friday as I pondered what new tea to steep and drink. Thus for the past few days, I’ve been sipping on Keemun. I have been hooked since the first cup.
Composition: Black tea from the Qimen County of Huangshan City, in Anhui (Anhwei) province. “Keemun” was actually the English spelling for “Qimen” during the colonial era.
Dry Visual: Extremely thin, dark brown almost black and twisted tea leaves. While it is common for black tea leaves to be broken, Keemun tea leaves appear to be longer in length than many others I have seen. Thanks Tavalon for the picture.
Dry Aroma: A unique mix of mild earthiness and fruity sweetness.
Flavor: For an unflavored black tea, Keemun is a really good cuppa tea. Keemun is a very smooth and full-bodied tea albeit a smidgen dry after half a cup. It has a definite maltiness that I have often called “earthy”. I had to drink a few cups to confirm this next flavor, but I tell you I tasted a hint of orange. I would love to hear from other Keemun drinkers about this flavor undertone.
Keemun is naturally sweet and enjoyable without sweetener as there is no hint of bitterness. However, after adding a little Sugar-In-The-Raw Keemun came alive. I prefer drinking Keemun with sweetener and believe it would make a great sweet iced tea. (Southern Style)
Liquor: A rich reddish brown hue.
Brewing Time: Recommended brewing time is 5 minutes. I brewed for the recommended 5 minutes.
Manufacturer: Tavalon Tea
Caffeine: Yes.
I thought I would share a little Keemun history with you from my Wikipedia search. Keemun was first produced in 1875 by a failed civil servant, Yu Quianchen, after he traveled to Fujian province to learn the secrets of black tea production. Prior to that, only green tea was made in Anhui. The result exceeded his expectations, and the excellent Keemun tea quickly gained popularity in England, and became the most prominent ingredient of the English Breakfast tea blend.
If you have the opportunity to enjoy a cup of Keemun, please stop by and share your experience. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!
References: Keemun tea. (2008, October 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:25, November 2, 2008, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keemun_tea&oldid=245191514
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