Photo: Adagio Teas |
Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small, dark with some golden tips
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: mesh strainer and ceramic teacup
Liquor: dark reddish brown
I love Chinese black teas and Keemun is one of my favorite varieties. This one was a great example. I loved the smoky smell of the dry leaves. The taste was complex and earthy with notes of cocoa and pepper along with a mild wine-like fruitiness. The aftertaste was all brown sugar and molasses. The mouth-feel was very thick and buttery. There was also a slightly baked taste that reminded me of fresh bread. While there was some astringency, it wasn’t offensive at all. I also tried this tea in the pyramid bag and it was just as tasty. I’ve been very impressed by the Masters Collection from Adagio. While the price point is higher, so is the quality and I think it is worth the extra splurge.
You can find out more about this tea here.