Keemun (Qimen)
Wine-like, orchid, smoky-without-smoke, distinctive "Keemun aroma." The defining Chinese black tea.
Keemun (Qimen, 祁门) is the defining Chinese black tea and one of the most distinctive black teas worldwide. The Anhui county's climate and local cultivars combine with traditional black-tea processing to produce a cup with the characteristic "Keemun aroma": orchid notes, wine-like fruit, and what tasters often describe as "smoky" character without any actual smoke in the processing. This signature aroma is unique to authentic Keemun and difficult to reproduce in black teas from other origins.
Keemun became the foundation of English Breakfast blends in the late 19th century — the distinctive aroma added complexity to blends dominated by Indian Assam. Premium grades (Mao Feng, Hao Ya A, Hao Ya B) deliver the most distinctive cup character; everyday Keemun grades remain pleasant black tea but lose the most distinctive notes. Recent decades have seen commercialization pressures and quality variability, but skilled small producers continue to produce world-class Keemun.
Signature teas
- Keemun Mao Feng
- Keemun Hao Ya A
- Keemun Hao Ya B
Tea types produced
Cultivars grown
- Qimen Zhuye (local)
- Various
Processing focus
Harvest seasons
- Spring (April-May)
- Summer
Flavor signature
Notable producers & areas
- Lihou
- Likou
- Pingli
Brands carrying Keemun (Qimen) tea
Brands in our directory that carry tea types this origin produces. Direct-sourcing brands shown first.