Orange Peel Keemun

Tea: Orange Peel Qimen(祁门小青柑)
Type: Red Tea
Harvest: April 2025
Region: Anhui Province, Qimen County, Pingli Township.
Producer: Master Zheng
Tasting Notes: Orange, Peanut, Barley.

This is another modern spin on Keemun from a younger producer.  There is nothing novel or scandalous about mixing tea with dried fruit. Indeed, it is a practice with ancient precedent that is still enjoyed in many parts of China. Master Zheng executes this simple favorite extremely well, cutting off some of the sharper edges one can expect in a keemun, without overpowering the crisp fragrance of the Chuyezhong varietal. The little green mandarin orange serves the same function that lemon does when paired with standard tea bagged black tea. This is a light tea that would go will with a rich meal or active day outside. Such a tea is also great as something to share with a friend that is new to whole leaf tea and more accustomed to the fruity blended teas.

This tea is best enjoyed grandpa / western style. Weighing in around ten grams, you are best off in enjoying this in a larger vessel like a jug or Western teapot. For faster brewing, you should remove the top and take out some of the tea inside so water penetrates more quickly. It is very satifying to watch all the tea leaves' oils rush out from the small hole as the tea brews.

For more on Master Zheng and Keemun, check out the blog below:

Keemun: How China’s Most Famous Red Tea Lost Itself