The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
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| China's Anhui Province - Home to Chocolaty Flavored Keemun Teas |
| China's Anhui province is home to their Keemun (pronounced chee-men) black teas, one of the West's favorite teas for over a century because of their lightly sweet and intriguing chocolate fla- vors, reminiscent of unsweetened cocoa, but without the bitterness. |
| No one is really sure why the Chinese began pro- ducing black teas in the first place, as they have produced and drunk green teas for thousands of years. But the Keemun family of black teas makes one glad they did. The magnificent, scenic Huang Shan Mountains are located in Anhui province and are home to Kee- mun teas. Ancient pine trees grow amidst steep, rocky peaks, and cold, clear mountain springs. The moist environment of these beautiful mountains produces a natural phenomenon of swirling clouds and mist known simply as "sea of clouds." Near the Keemun tea growing region lies the vill- age of Tunxi. Some of the public buildings and houses in the village have been built in the south- ern Anhui Huizhou vernaclar style, dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). |
A little bit of this history has been brought to the United States. One of the original houses from the village of Tunxi was dismantled and then shipped to the U.S., where it was reconstructed and put on display for the public at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The Keemun (spelled Qimen in the East) family of black teas includes: Keemun Hao Ya, Keemun Hao Ya A and B, Keemun Mao Feng (or Keemun Hairpoint Mao Feng), and Keemun Congou (or qihong tea). Keemun teas come from four different growing areas of Anhui province - Dorgzhi, Guichi, Shitai, and Yixian, which are all located near the city of Huang Shan, and the Huang Shan Mountains. The microclimate known as "sea of clouds," described above, provides a blanket of moisture over these tea producing areas. Together with the cool, clear mountain air, and plenty of water from the mist and many small rivers and mountain springs, provides the soil with a unique com- bination of nutrients that help the tea plants grow heartily. Keemun teas are made from eight different types of tea bush, but it's said that the best tea comes from leaves with a little red vein running down the back. The two highest grades of Keemun are Hao Ya A and Hao Ya B. Most Hao Ya A and B comes from the spring plucking, with little made from summer or fall flushes. All of the Keemun teas have the intriguing chocolate flavor, making them some of the most popular of China's black teas. Keemun Mao Feng is grown near the town of Qimen (Keemun is an older Western spelling), in an area of steep rolling flats be- tween the Yellow Mountains and the Yangtze River. Even though the hills can get quite steep, they are small when compared to the massive peaks of India's Darjeeling tea growing region. Mao Feng is harvested in leafsets of two leaves and a bud, and is plucked during a few short days at the end of April and May. It is fairly rare to find because most tea makers skip over the short Mao Feng harvest, instead saving their leaves for the Hao Ya harvest that starts just a few days later, and runs much longer. So, if by chance you run across it, scoop it up. With its lightly sweet and chocolaty flavor, you'll be in for a real treat. Enjoy. |
| How much loose tea should I use for my 24 ounce travel mug? How to calculate the amount of loose tea to use for different size cups and large mugs, and also how to measure loose tea by volume and weight. What is CTC tea and why is it the main type of tea grown in the Nilgiri region of India? Find out what CTC tea is and why you've likely been drinking it for years. Also learn why Nilgiri tea growers are working hard to change that. (Try Nilgiri Chamraj Estate Special Fancy Oolong Frost Tea from Silver Leaf Tea. Chamraj Estate is know for their numerous certifications for quality, organic cultiva- tion and Fair Trade accreditations. This Special Fancy Oolong Frost is a superb tea with a sweet, subtle, flowery aroma and flavor). What's the difference between traditional budset white tea and new style white tea? Learn all about China's white teas, the styles, growing season, climate, and availability. Also learn how to tell the difference between traditional budset and new style white tea. (Pai Mu Tan White Tea from Silver Leaf Tea is a refreshing after dinner tea. Ginger root, orange peel, peach pieces, marigolds, safflowers, and ginger, orange, and peach flavor makes this tea a sweet, mellow treat). China yellow teas - a close cousin to green teas but with a special added step. China's yellow teas are close to green teas in many ways, but one special step in their processing makes them special in their own right. Learn what it is and which yellow teas come from China. Which green teas are found in China? Take an in-depth look at green teas specific to China, the styles, growing season, climate, and descrip- tion of some popular green teas you would expect to find in and outside the U.S., and online. Why are China's oolong or wulong teas so healthy? Learn why China's oolong teas are among their most prized and why Wuyi Shan rock or cliff oolongs are believed to be some of the healthiest teas in the world. How much tea should I use to make a gallon of iced tea? Quick and easy recipe for brewing up a gallon of iced tea, along with tips and ideas for adding tasty flavors with fresh fruit, juices, and using flavored teas. |
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| For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages: Which teas are from China? Learn which types of tea come from China and take a close-up look at individual teas, their qualities, growing seasons, and which are available as exports. China black teas - a labor of love. China's black tea production is much smaller than their green teas, but their black teas are a labor of love. Learn which black teas are made in China, the styles, climate, and growing season, and which are exported and likely to be sold online and in specialty tea stores in and outside of the U.S.. |
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