Cup #6 in SimplyJenW’s Tour of China blacks:
This one is kind of a side trip. I have been primarily focusing on Fujian black tea because the cocoa notes of tea from that region have me always wanting more. But this is a Keemun. I have only had a few of these, but the cup is generally more astringent, bolder, and smokey. It is more of a ‘wake me up’ tea than a ‘relax me out’ tea. I am not super versed in English Breakfast teas of all makes, but there are many that have Keemun as some portion of the blend, or they are a straight Keemun. Me personally, I can’t drink Keemun without additions. After the first several sips of this one, I had to sweeten. This one is in the mid range as far as price for a Keemun at Upton at a little over $7 for 125 grams. Now I am wondering how this compares to a more expensive one, but since it is not my black tea of choice, I may never know.
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If you want to try a keemun that needs no sweetening, I would recommend Harney and Sons Keemun Mao Feng. It is milder than most keemuns and because it is harvested so early and contains so many buds (which are higher in glucose) it is sweeter than many keemuns. I, too, LOVE Fujian province teas – they are my favorites! But several keemuns are dear to my heart as well. Harney’s Keemun Hao Ya A is rich, bold, and cocoa-y, and with afternoon sweets tastes pretty good with no additions, though at breakfast I nearly always add milk and sugar to any tea I am drinking.
Yes….I will try a bunch more Keemuns at some point…and Harney tea is always on my shopping list. How does Harney’s English Breakfast compare to the ones you mentioned? It is also a Keemun. The Adagio English Breakfast which is also a Keemun is definitely smoother and less astringent than the one I tried today after sweetening them both.
Keemun Hao Ya A is definitely the strongest of the three. Bold, rich, cocoa! And that hint of smoke that you usually find in keemuns. English Breakfast would be in the middle, I think, with Mao Feng being the mildest and sweetest of the three. I have English Breakfast or Queen Catherine practically every morning, and Mao Feng for afternoon tea time. I only had a sample of Hao Ya A, but I plan to get a tin on my next order. I think it will probably be an afternoon tea with guests as well.
If you want to try a keemun that needs no sweetening, I would recommend Harney and Sons Keemun Mao Feng. It is milder than most keemuns and because it is harvested so early and contains so many buds (which are higher in glucose) it is sweeter than many keemuns. I, too, LOVE Fujian province teas – they are my favorites! But several keemuns are dear to my heart as well. Harney’s Keemun Hao Ya A is rich, bold, and cocoa-y, and with afternoon sweets tastes pretty good with no additions, though at breakfast I nearly always add milk and sugar to any tea I am drinking.
Yes….I will try a bunch more Keemuns at some point…and Harney tea is always on my shopping list. How does Harney’s English Breakfast compare to the ones you mentioned? It is also a Keemun. The Adagio English Breakfast which is also a Keemun is definitely smoother and less astringent than the one I tried today after sweetening them both.
Keemun Hao Ya A is definitely the strongest of the three. Bold, rich, cocoa! And that hint of smoke that you usually find in keemuns. English Breakfast would be in the middle, I think, with Mao Feng being the mildest and sweetest of the three. I have English Breakfast or Queen Catherine practically every morning, and Mao Feng for afternoon tea time. I only had a sample of Hao Ya A, but I plan to get a tin on my next order. I think it will probably be an afternoon tea with guests as well.