Keemun Maofeng

Keemun Maofeng｜祁紅毛峰

 Tasting notes: Sweet, smoky, red dates
 Origin: Qimen, Anhui, China
 Cultivar: 祁門櫧葉種 Qimen Zhuye Zhong
 Elevation: 1200m
 Oxidation: ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿

Keemun tea is often considered to be the representative of Chinese black teas, known for its rich flavour and sweet aroma. This high grade Keemun Maofeng variety consists only of buds and young tender shoots, making it a sweet black tea with virtually no astringency. It has a particularly smooth flavour, with hints of longan and red dates, laced with a light smokiness.

Keemun Maofeng is grown in the Qimen mountains of Anhui, China. ‘Keemun’ is the old Western spelling for the Qimen (祁門) area and ‘Maofeng’ (毛峰) means ‘furry peaks’, referring to the tiny hairs on the buds. It is also used to refer to unshaped teas, like this one.

Because it consists of only buds and tender shoots, Keemun Maofeng is lighter and sweeter than lower grade Keemun teas, which often come in broken form and are used for English Breakfast blends.

The leaves are twisted into strip shapes and lightly roasted, resulting in a rich fruity and toasted flavour.