Tea is one of the most celebrated beverages in the world. The humble dried leaves and sprigs have started their roots from the Eastern grounds of China and have consistently trailed their way around the world. The country has been the source of the cherished drink, with the tea leaves brewing different varieties that have been generously poured into our teacups today. Along with this expanse of gifts, there is one that sits among the thrones of highly treasured teas. It is the Keemun tea, perhaps the best and most popular out of the black tea variety.
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What is Keemun Tea?
Tea and its background are both historical and cultural, just as how the legendary Shennong or the Divine Farmer is credited for the colorful discovery of tea, Keemun tea has a story behind it too—albeit shorter and more straightforward.
The fragrant Keemun tea emanates from the Chinese province Anhui, particularly the county of Qimen, from which the tea’s name was derived. It was during 1875 when Yu Ganchen wanted a blend different from Anhui’s usual green tea. This search for a different tea variant led him to the province of Fujian where black tea was being cultivated. He studied their methods and production, went home, and came up with Qimen tea, not knowing then that the derivation from Camellia sinensis is going to be on people’s teacups in the future.
Although younger compared to its tea variant predecessors, Keemun tea’s production is near the center of civilization and the historical Yangtze River, where agriculture is one of the major sources of livelihood in the mountain range. The then Qimen tea had been adapted to Keemun as one of the most loved teas in China made its way to England.
Keemun tea is a pleasure for our visual, olfactory, and gustatory organs. The infusion’s vibrant reddish color is a sight to behold, especially when it is being poured from the teapot to your willing cup. As it steeps, you would get a whiff of a hint of floral aroma, priming you for the final act. The smooth tea will remind you of several taste undertones once it hits your tongue, from sweet and fruity to smoky and nutty.
Keemun Tea Variants
Keemun tea has five different variants that are all rich in vitamins and minerals that includes potassium, magnesium, folic acid, sodium, and quercetin; it is also a great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and the complex variants of Vitamin B.
- Keemun Gongfu or Congou – Thin tight strips of leaves.
- Keemun Mao Feng – Slightly twisted leaf buds, offers a bolder flavor when brewed longer.
- Keemun Xin Ya – The early bud variety, said to have less bitterness.
- Keemun Hao Ya – The highest grade variant made from fine buds with silver tips features.
- Hubei Keemun – Not a true Keemun.
Health Benefits of Keemun Tea
Its righteous spot as one of the best teas is not just because of its ability to satisfy the senses. While it is true that black tea is a good source of caffeine, the flavorful Keemun tea offers more than that.
Anti-inflammation
Like other tea types, Keemun tea has polyphenols that function as antioxidants. These polyphenols are believed to aid in decreasing our bodies’ inflammation, to which bodily pains and other illnesses can stem from.
Energy-booster
The caffeine-rich Keemun tea gives that much-needed jolt of energy when you’re feeling sluggish and tired. It also counters drowsiness, making it the perfect beverage of choice when you are burning the midnight oil.
Better digestion
This benefit is again owed to polyphenol, Keemun tea may assist in a better digestive environment by the proliferation of good bacteria. It also gives our enzymes a boost that is useful for breaking down food and for transforming it into nutrients. Aside from that, the drink is said to boost metabolism that could help in losing weight.
Keeps the teeth and bones strong
The high amount of magnesium found in Keemun tea helps in strengthening the bones and teeth by boosting the absorption of calcium in the body.
Lowers bad blood cholesterol
A trial published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information of the National Library of Medicine showed that the intake of black tea had helped with lowering the blood cholesterol of those mildly diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia. The same test also reported that a low-fat diet along with tea-drinking may help in shrinking the chances of coronary heart disease. Future research and trials are still required, although a cup of Keemun would not hurt.
Rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants help protect the body from various diseases including heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. The antioxidants fight off the free radicals which the body produces to breakdown food and when one is exposed to smoke or radiation, however, it is an unstable molecule that can damage the cells in the body that would lead to various illnesses.
Proper Dosage and Health Risks of Keemun Tea
Remember that adage about how too much of anything is bad? No matter how much of a confessed tea-lover you are, it still applies to the beverage. While no one is going to consistently watch if you’ve boiled yet another batch, it will not hurt to know how many cups are too many.
The consensus says that 3-4 cups a day is fine. However, the amount varies per individual. Because of its high caffeine content, Keemun tea may not be the best choice for people who suffer from insomnia and diarrhea, as the substance triggers or prolongs these two conditions. It would also be best for a person who has anxiety and is stressed to reduce their daily cuppa, especially if they observe heightened nervousness after consuming the beverage.
Precaution is strictly advised to pregnant and lactating women too. Over-consumption of caffeine is linked to complications, including miscarriage.
If you wish to ascertain whether your consumption might be bordering on excessive, seek consultation from a physician, particularly when adverse conditions arise.
How to Make Homemade Keemun Tea?
With the richness of Keemun tea, from its background, flavor profile, and benefits, you may be inclined to brew a cup at the comforts of your own home. The good thing is that it does not require culinary expertise. All you need are a few things and a few minutes to spare.
Ingredients
1-2 teaspoons of Keemun tea leaves, 8 ounces of water
Tools
Teapot, teacups, strainer (optional)
Steps
- Step 1: Heat the 8 ounces of water in the pot of your choice. The most ideal option is to do so in a Yixing clay pot because it absorbs the tea’s flavors that give every serving a richer taste. However, the celebrated pot may be inaccessible to some. Place the pot of water under direct heat but do not let it come to a boil.
- Step 2: Take the 1-2 teaspoons of Keemun tea leaves and place them in the hot water.
- Step 3: Steep for 2-3 minutes.
- Step 4: Strain the leaves and pour into teacups. Serve immediately.
Making your Keemun tea allows for full customization according to your preferences. You may freely add another teaspoonful of the leaves if you want the infusion to be stronger. Some sugar and a splash of milk can be mixed too, although that would significantly reduce the original taste of the tea.
Fresh Keemun tea leaves are also known for being packed with flavors because of its withering, fermentation, and drying processes. Because of that method, the leaves can be reused for a couple more brews. Just steep them for a minute or so longer than usual with every brew.
But if you’re in a rush and need something instant to snap your senses awake, there are brands in the market that give you the convenience without sacrificing all of the good things Keemun tea has to offer.
Best Keemun Tea Products
Not all of us are a stone’s throw away from the Qimen county. Luckily, there are Keenum tea products that are within our reach.
Twinings’ English Breakfast
Did you know that Keemun is used in the popular English Breakfast blend? Take a cuppa then from one of the most recognizable tea brands in the United Kingdom: Twinings. The brand describes their blend as “gentle and light, with layers of flavor.” They even feature how to prepare the tea with the Gongfu method. Next time you have a cup, remember their tip to sip the tea off the spoon, letting some air in. This will allow you to fully experience Keemun’s breadth of flavors.
The Republic of Tea Keemun Black Full-Leaf Tea
These small, dark leaves offer a sweet and slightly bitter flavor with a touch of smoke and chocolate.
Pantenger Organic Keemun Black Tea Loose Leaf
Pantenger packages this Keemun tea in an airtight tin container which is vital for keeping the fresh and away from moisture and sun exposure. Pantenger Keemun is harvested in spring between 1st April and 20th May when the tea leaves contain three times more polyphenols and amino acids.
Adagio’s Keemun Concerto Mao Feng
The highest quality of the Keemun tea family is the Mao Feng variant. It features the long, stringy leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The Mao Feng blend is also said to be the most expensive, so have a cup of this when you are feeling indulgent.
Adagio’s customers like the Concerto blend so much that the product has a 93% rating on their website. The brand boasts of the loose-leaf blend’s “beautiful, fiery amber-red” color, and since it is sourced from the Anhui province of China, you are assured of the black tea‘s authentic flavor.
Culinary Teas’ Organic Imperial Keemun Mao Feng
Formerly with the Sacred Garden Tea tag after its current name, Culinary Teas also offers the premium loose leaf of Keemun Mao Feng. The drink, according to the brand, “has a natural orchid character,” consistent with the flowery aroma that the Keemun tea-drinkers are familiar with. It also has a wine-like and juicy consistency that would make a sip fuller to the senses, enriched by the benefits of the drink.
Keemun tea is more than a type of tea. It is a journey—from its inspiration and beginnings in Fujian, its cultivation in Qimen, and its prevalence in countries across the globe. It has become a base for tea blends and has been part of people’s everyday lives. With all of those, it might as well claim its place as the beloved black tea brew of the world.
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