SACRED GARDEN IMPERIAL KEEMUN MAO FENG
Ingredients From: China
Region: Anhui Province-Qimen County
Grade: Imperial Keemun Mao Feng Sacred Garden
Manufacture Type: Orthodox (Traditional leafy), Small batch crafted.
Cup Characteristics: A high quality Keemun with a light floral taste.
Thick reddish liquor has a bouquet of an orchid character.
Ingredients: Black tea
Sacred garden imperial keemun mao feng China black tea is a particularly fine example of a winey Keemun-very often referred to as the “Bordeaux or Burgundy of Tea”. The tea has a thick rich liquor that has an orchid like fragrance-a fragrance that some say can be enhanced with milk. This grade has tightly rolled leaves that promote a deep rich concentrated flavor. The name Keemun comes from Qimen County in southern Anhui province, where almost all the mountains are covered with tea bushes. Qimen County produced only green tea until the mid 1870?s. Around that time a young man in the civil service lost his job. Despite being totally heartbroken and completely embarrassed by his shame, he remembered what his father told him -„A skill is a better guarantor of a living than precarious officialdom?. Following this advice, the young man packed his bags to travel to Fujian Province to learn the secrets of black tea manufacturing. Upon his return to Qimen in 1875 he set up three factories to produce black tea. The black tea method was perfectly suited to the tea leaves produced in this warm and moist climate with well-drained sandy soil. Before long, the superb flavor of Keemuns became very popular around the world.
Despite its relatively short history for a Chinese tea, Keemun became world renown by 1915 and in taste tests conducted by the leading tea companies of the day was preferred over Darjeeling. This year also marked another milestone in Imperial Keemun’s storied history -it won gold at the International Exposition in Panama. Even though in recent years tea connoisseurs have taken more to Assams and Ceylon black teas, Imperial Keemun Sacred Garden remains “king of the black teas”.
Brewing Instructions:
Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea for each 8 ounces of water in the teapot or cup and pour in the boiling water. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Add milk and sugar to taste if desired.
