Organic Keemun tea loose leaf 100g Steenbergs details and description

Steenbergs organic Keemun tea is a loose leaf black tea from China.  Organic Keemun tea is a congou black tea from the Anhui Province in Northern China, whose tea leaves are dark black and twisted tautly lengthways; the name Keemun derives from the Qimen County where it is grown, fairly close to the Kintuck area.

Keemun tea is a fine tea that is flavourful, full-bodied and almost winey, yet with a light, pleasing flavour that hints of orchids.    It is also a cleaner less smokey tea than many of the China black and red teas.  While Keemun tea is best taken without milk, some feel it can be enhanced with a drop or two of milk.

The Qimen region of Anhui had produced green teas like most of China up until the later part of the nineteenth century.  However, a young man descended from a long line of barbers passed the civil service exams and got an official post.  His father is supposed to have said to him "Money and rank are no great matters.  What is important is to learn a skill that can support you all your life," which are very wise words then and now.  However, the young man paid no attention to his dad's advice.  Three years later, he had to resign when his boss was disgraced and so retired from the civil service.

Finally, recalling his father's advice, the young man went to a tea garden in Fujian and learnt the skill of the processing of tea.  He returned home and in 1875 set up factories in three villages with the help of his father.  These factories prospered with increasing demand from overseas for black China teas rather than green, and many neigbouring villages also switched to this new Keemun style of black tea.  The tea was so popular in England that the Darjeeling factories copied his style of manufacture, resulting in their capturing much of the demand for Keemun style congou teas.

Tea brewing: Put 1tsp of Steenbergs organic loose leaf Keemun tea per cup into the pot.  Bring a kettle of freshly drawn water to the boil, then pour this heated water over the tea leaves.  Put the lid on the pot and leave to brew for 5 minutes.  Drink without milk, or add some milk and sugar to taste.

Keemun tea also makes an awesome iced tea: Put 6tsp of Keemun into a heat resistant jug.  Bring freshly drawn water to the boil, then pour 300ml over the Qimen tea leaves.  Leave to brew for 5 - 7 minutes.  Fill serving jug with 700ml of ice cold water, then add the brewed tea and stir.  Sweeten and garnish to taste.

Steep - sip - savour - sustainably with Steenbergs

For a sample of this or any of the other Steenbergs loose leaf teas, email your name and address and which teas you would like to try.

Part of the Steenbergs UK range of loose leaf teas