organic keemun black tea

Organic Keemun Black Tea

Keemun is the westernized name of one of the premier black teas from China (called Qi Men or Qimen). It is a type of tea grown from a specific varietal of the tea plant. Typically, a tea estate or portion of an estate specializing in producing Keemun black tea will only produce black teas from these plants. They have a unique essential oil (myrcenal) not found in other tea varietals which contributes to a natural toasty sweetness to the tea.

Keemun was one of the first teas used in the earliest versions of English Breakfast tea blends. In many cases, the highest quality of these blends was almost pure Keemun with modest amounts of other black teas added to strengthen the body of the tea to accomodate adding milk and sugar. Keemun on its own doesn't really need milk or sugar, if preferred use less than normal to allow the full flavor of the tea to come through.

How to Prepare Keemun Black Tea:

Heat water (filtered if possible) to boiling 212˚F, let it cool slightly to around 190˚F and add one full teaspoon loose leaf tea per cup (apprx. 8 ounces). Infuse the loose tea for 4 minutes, depending on taste preference. Try not to squeeze out or tamp down the leaves at the end of the infusion (similar to tying off or squeezing out a tea bag), doing so tends to bring out excess tanins in the brewed leaf adding unnecesary bitterness to the tea.

INGREDIENTS: Organic black tea, Anhui province, China.

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