Black tea · Chinese black

Keemun

祁门红茶, Qimen hongcha

8.4/10 editor's score

A famous Chinese black tea from Qimen county in Anhui, created in the 1870s. Smooth, fruity and winey, with a distinctive aroma tea writers call "Keemun aroma".

Chinese blackWineySmooth

↓ Jump to brew guide About this tea Compare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

What you need

250 ml water90 to 95°C

Steep 3:002 steeps

LiquorBright, red-amber

Served inYixing clay teapot

At a glance

A famous Chinese black tea from Qimen county in Anhui, created in the 1870s.

CaffeineMedium~30 to 50 mg, our estimate

MilkPlain or with a little milk.

Beginner fit8.5 / 10From the editor's score

HarvestApril to May (spring)The main quality season.

Pairs withDark chocolate, Roast duck, Fruit cakeLess good with delicate fish

Grown atHills, about 200 to 1,000 mQimen, Anhui

Served inYixing clay teapotSmall clay pot, tiny cups

About Keemun

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe Keemun as fruity and winey with notes of cocoa, dried plum and a faint pine smoke or orchid aroma ¹.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

Region: Qimen County, Anhui ¹
Created: 1875 ¹
Styles: Mao Feng (buds) and Hao Ya ¹
Famous for: The "Keemun aroma" ¹

History and culture

Keemun was created in 1875, when Yu Ganchen brought black tea methods from Fujian to Qimen ¹.

It became a favourite in Britain and was an important part of early breakfast blends ¹.

Editor's score

8.4/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg

Black tea (average)~47 mg

Keemun~30 to 50 mg

Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo Clinic^C.

Harvest calendar

Keemun is picked mainly in spring. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

The local Qimen Zhuye ("bamboo leaf") cultivar ¹.

How it is made

01Plucking

One bud and one or two leaves.

02Withering

Softens leaf.

03Rolling

Tight, thin strips.

04Oxidation

Full.

05Drying

Fired in stages.

06Refining

Long hand sorting.

Dry leaf and liquor

LiquorBright, red-amber.

After steeping

Wet leafCoppery.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

Dark chocolate
Roast duck
Fruit cake

Best avoided

Delicate fish

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.

Grades and fakes

Keemun Mao Feng (bud-rich, spring) and Hao Ya (A, B grades) are common names. Gongfu Keemun is the traditional tight-rolled style ¹.

How to spot a poor or fake one

Look for spring harvest and named style.
Very smoky "Keemun" may be blended with Lapsang.

FAQ

Is Keemun in English Breakfast?

Historically yes. Modern blends often use Assam, Ceylon and African teas instead.

Find it inBlack teas Teas from China QimenChinese blackWineySmooth

Sources

Wikipedia, "Keemun". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keemun
Wikipedia, "Chinese tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_tea
Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.