Keemun Black

Smooth, softly aromatic, and gentler than a brisk breakfast tea, this is the black tea to pour with something sweet. Keemun (a classic black tea from the Qimen area of China) brews a clear reddish brown with a mellow, wine-like depth and quiet notes of cocoa and dried fruit. Sip it on its own in the afternoon, or serve it after dinner with dark chocolate, a fruit tart, or cheesecake.

China has made black tea in the Qimen hills for well over a century, and Keemun became one of its most celebrated, once a mainstay of classic English blends for its smoothness. The caffeine sits in the moderate range, mellow enough to drink through the afternoon.

Single ingredient: black tea. No sugar, no preservatives. Vegan.

How do I brew it?
Steep to taste, and see the brew guide on the product page for the amount, water temperature, and timing that suit this tea. As a smooth, mellow black tea, it rewards a gentle hand rather than a hard boil.

What does it pair with?
It shines after dinner. Its cocoa and dried-fruit depth sits beautifully next to dark chocolate, a fruit tart, or a slice of cheesecake, and it holds up to cheese as well.

Should I drink it with milk or plain?
Plain lets its wine-like smoothness and cocoa notes come through, which is how most people enjoy it. A small splash of milk softens it further if you prefer a rounder cup.

What makes Keemun different from Assam or Ceylon?
Keemun is smoother and more mellow, with cocoa and dried-fruit notes rather than the bold malt of Assam or the brisk citrus edge of Ceylon. It is a black tea for slow sipping more than a wake-up jolt.