Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small, dark and twisted
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 200 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: amber
This tea goes by many names but Keemun, otherwise known as Qimen, is one of my favorite black teas. The taste of this particular rendition was fruity with a lingering honey-like aftertaste. An interesting floral note sprung up in the middle of each sip but it was very subtle. It wasn’t at all the same type of floral that you might expect from a Darjeeling. There was hardly any astringency and the mouth-feel was very smooth. This would be an excellent tea for those who do not usually like black teas. I did three consecutive infusions in a gaiwan but you could just as easily steep this tea western style. It was much too mellow and nuanced to justify adding anything to it. Not all black teas require milk and sugar and this tea is proof of that. Peony Tea Shop has been one of my favorite sources for Chinese and Taiwanese oolongs. This tea shows that they are an excellent source for black teas as well.
You can find out more about this tea here.