Long-time readers of this blog will be well aware of my fondness for black teas. While I concede that black tea doesn’t — for the most part — have the depth or range you can find in other types of tea, I remain an avowed fan of our fully oxidized friend. This morning, with heavy eyes from too little sleep, I decided to turn my attention to one of the most well-regarded of all black teas: keemun.

Keemun is a region in Anhui Province, China, near the city of Huangshan and the Huang Shan Mountains (where one finds the teahouse I featured several weeks ago). It’s a temperate, wet area where tea grows amidst rain-soaked clouds and mist.

I have two Keemun teas to sample today: Narien Teas’ Keemun Imperial and Teas Etc’s Keemun. Note to the FTC and those readers who care: Both these teas were sent to me as free samples.

Keemun Imperial by Narien Teas

The name of this tea is surely a throwback to the days of the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties, when Keemun was one of the Imperial Tribute Teas. The emperor of the day commanded an exclusive right over the Imperial Tribute teas, which were given him by loyal followers for whom the ‘gift’ was little more than a tax payment.

Narien’s Keemun is a smooth black tea with a slight smokiness. It has a buttery note that reminds me of Yunnan’s black teas, though the butteriness is less pronounced than I find in Yunnan blacks.

Keemun was the original English Breakfast tea, and as I enjoy Narien’s version, I can see why. Keemun is wonderfully smooth, with a refinement that sets it apart from most black teas. These days, most English Breakfast teas are blends of black teas from different regions (the organic English Breakfast tea I reviewed earlier this year combined teas from Assam, Darjeeling and Ceylon, for example), but dipping into Keemun gives me a new-found appreciation for what must once have been a most wonderful blend.

Narien Teas’ Keemun Imperial is not my favourite Keemun, nor is it Narien’s best tea (my vote for that still goes to their wonderful Earl Grey tea). While it is quite smooth, I find that it doesn’t have as much depth as I would like.

Keemun Imperial is available from Narien Teas for $11 for 4 oz.

Keemum by Teas Etc

Teas Etc have garnered quite a reputation over the past few years. Earlier this year, they won two gold prizes at the World Tea Expo for their Assam Reserve and Ceylon OP1. This Keemun didn’t win any prizes, but black tea certainly seems to be one of their strengths.

The first thing that I notice about this keemun as opposed to the Narien Teas’ version is the size and shape of the leaves. Whereas the Narien Teas Imperial Keemun is composed of small, mostly broken leaves, Teas Etc’s Keemun has some longer, twisted leaves. As it turns out, this has quite an impact on the tea’s flavour.

Teas Etc’s Keemun has a lighter colour than the Narien Keemun (though this could have something to do with the amount of dry leaf I used). It has a lovely aroma of fruit and smoke. Like Narien’s Keemun, this one is very smooth, but it has a rounder, more balanced mouthfeel. A lingering sweetness gives it fruity notes while there is a certain delicacy to it that is almost floral.

Keemun is available from Teas Etc for $5.95 for a 1 oz. tin.

© Eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Keemun Double-Header: Keemun by Narien Teas and Teas Etc | 2 comments |
Post categories: Black tea, Tea reviews
Post tags: Keemum, Narien Teas, tea samplers, Teas Etc

It’s been a long time since I sat down and reviewed a tea, which can largely be blamed on the fact that we’ve been down with some sort of flu for most of August and a good chunk of July. But the sinuses are cleared and the taste buds are active again, so today Bec and I sat down to enjoy a cup of Kilinoe green tea — the first Hawaiian green tea to be sold in the mainland USA, thanks to Narien Teas.

Narien describes Kilinoe as “a mildly-sweet and fragrant tea that never over-steeps”. I haven’t tested the last claim, but I can certainly agree with the first two. This is a mild but surprisingly complex tea. Between us, Bec and I picked out a wonderful array of qualities. Bec was struck by the tea’s floral perfume, whereas I picked up a slight tanginess in the aroma, lending it a citrusy quality. I noted a faint sweetness after the first taste. Bec found the taste refreshing and strongly reminiscent of a leafy green vegetable.

Since this was the first tea from Hawaii I’ve ever enjoyed, I tried to pick out similarities between it and others I’ve tried before. Strangely enough, the first tea that came to mind was the Bai Mudan (also known as White Peony) I reviewed earlier this year. The Kilinoe’s savoury character reminded me of the white tea, though I don’t think it was quite as smoky as the Bai Mudan.

Kilinoe green tea is available from Narien Teas for $9 for a sample. There’s limited stock, so if you want to try some fine Hawaiian tea, be quick. Remember to quote “teafinelybrewed” to receive a 10% discount.

Other bloggers’ reviews of Kilinoe:

• Brett reviewed it on Black Dragon Tea Bar
• Lainie reviewed it on Lainie Sips

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Kilinoe: Hawaiian Green Tea (review) | 4 comments |
Post categories: Green tea, Tea reviews
Post tags: Hawaii tea, Hawaiian tea, Kilinoe Green Tea, Narien Teas

The other thing that I quickly wanted to mention is that The Tea Spot have slashed 30% off their Vintage Oolong, which is a single-estate, medium-bodied oolong from Taiwan. Here’s how The Tea Spot describe their tea:

With a sweet, nutty flavor, this tea captures the subtlety of what amazing, full–leaf tea should taste like. Hints of ripe apricots and lilacs combine to produce a tender, timeless green oolong; hence the name! This tea yields a bright, amber liquor and should be re–steeped multiple times. Each successive steeping will unveil new flavors & aromas, until the leaves are fully opened. Delicate, refined, and understated – this is the true connoisseur’s tea!

Head over to The Tea Spot now.

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | New Tea Community, a year's supply of tea and 30% off Vintage Oolong from The Tea Spot | 3 comments |
Post categories: Miscellaneous, Oolong tea, Specials
Post tags: Narien Teas, tea community, tea forums, The Tea Roundtable, The Tea Spot

This is a follow-up to my previous post about the history of Earl Grey tea.

Types of Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey tea has long been a favourite of mine. Recently, I’ve been trying a few different types of Earl Grey and discovering just how much variety there is in this one blend. Earl Grey teas vary based on two main parameters: the type of black tea used as a base and the amount of bergamot oil used. Additionally, many vendors add extra elements to their Earl Grey blends.

Take Narien Teas’ Earl Grey, for example. Narien use tippy Chinese black teas (rather than the blend of lower-quality Indian black teas used commonly in Earl Grey tea) and hand blend the tea with pure bergamot oil. Blue cornflowers are added in for visual interest (I’m not sure, but I don’t think the cornflowers affect the flavour at all).

Or consider Lupicia’s Earl Grey Grand Classic, which blends bergamot oil with smoky Lapsang Souchong tea and longan fruit. Before she tried this Earl Grey, Bec swore she hated Earl Grey tea. This blend, along with Narien’s blend, managed to convert her into a bona fide Earl Grey tea fan.

Other variations haven’t worked for me quite so well. I picked up some Earl Green tea from McIver’s Coffee & Tea earlier this year and have been quite disappointed with it. As Mary Lou and Robert Heiss write in The Story of Tea, successfully blending green tea with bergamot is challenging, because both the tea and the fruit are astringent. I guess McIver’s didn’t get it quite right.

Some other well-known variations on Earl Grey include ones embellished with rose petals (French Earl Grey (Adore Tea have one of these)), lavender (Teas Etc offer this as a blend) and Lady Grey a Twinings invention, is a related blend made by blending lemon and Seville orange with classic Earl Grey tea.

Tips on Buying Earl Grey Tea

Unfortunately, the tea used in most supermarket blends of Earl Grey tea is of abysmal quality. Granted, most of the tea found in supermarkets is poor quality – but Earl Grey blends are particularly likely to contain low quality tea. This is because the bergamot is often such a dominant force in the blend that it masks the poor quality of the tea.

When I buy Earl Grey tea, here are the two things I look for:

Quality tea base: There are plenty of tea merchants out there who use great tea, and it makes a huge difference. Narien Teas and Lupicia come to mind.

Natural bergamot oil: Synthetic flavourings are common in many supermarket Earl Grey blends. Look out for merchants who use natural bergamot oil.

What about you? What do you look for in your Earl Grey tea?

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Earl Grey, Lady Grey and Earl Green: Variations on a Theme | 4 comments |
Post categories: Black tea
Post tags: Earl Green Tea, Earl Grey Tea, French Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Lupicia, Narien Teas, Twinings

I was surprised a few months ago when Billy from Narien Teas told me where he was going on his latest tea finding mission: Hawaii.

Apparently the island state known for ukuleles, great surf and volcanoes is now dipping into the gourmet tea market. Kilinoe Green Tea is a hand-harvested, hand-rolled and hand-fired tea grown on a small eco-organic tea estate on Big Island, Hawaii. According to Narien Teas, it’s “a mildly-sweet and fragrant tea that never over-steeps.”

At $9 for a sample, Kilinoe Green Tea isn’t cheap. But it’s also very rare. I’m picking up a sample of it and will post a review in a few weeks.

Kilinoe Green Tea is available from Narien Teas. Remember to quote “teafinelybrewed” for a 10% discount.

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Kilinoe Green Tea: Hawaiian Grown Tea | 3 comments |
Post categories: Green tea
Post tags: Hawaii tea, Hawaiian tea, Kilinoe Green Tea, Narien Teas

I grew up in a home where Dilmah is the black tea of choice. Dilmah Extra Strong, to be precise. As I delved deeper into the world of tea, it was China, Japan and India whose teas caught my attention. Dilmah and every other Sri Lankan tea was shoved to the side as I flirted with oolongs, greens, blacks and white teas from elsewhere.

But receiving a sample pack of Narien’s Ceylon Kenilworth a few weeks ago has reignited my interest in Sri Lankan tea.

Ceylon Kenilworth is a single-estate tea from Kenilworth Estate, one of the country’s best known estates. I am instantly impressed with the quality of this tea. Short spears of tea leaf, obviously prepared with care and craftsmanship. I take a deep sniff of the tea – it smells of earth and fruit.

Black tea is what Ceylon does best. Here, I am treated to Ceylon tea at its finest, a far cry from the Dilmah tea bags at my parents’ home. Nostalgia is an integral part of this tea experience. There is the familiar Ceylon hardiness – a characteristic I grew up associating with black tea in general. But Ceylon Kenilworth is smooth. Drinking it is effortless work. To me, it is classic black tea, done exceptionally well.

Ceylon Kenilworth is available from Narien Teas. It’s $7 for a 4 oz pack. Don’t forget: Quote “teafinelybrewed” at checkout to receive 10% off any order from Narien Teas.

Browse more tea from Narien Teas.

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Ceylon Kenilworth from Narien Teas | No comment |
Post categories: Black tea, Tea reviews
Post tags: Ceylon Tea, Dilmah, Kandy Region, Kenilworth Estate, Narien Teas, Sri Lanka

I wrote these thoughts about Narien Teas’ Zhejiang Mao Feng one morning two weeks ago. Later that day, my wife went into labour. Here, belatedly, is my review of this lovely tea.

I started this day not, as I usually do, with a cup of strong black tea, but with a light cup of Zhejiang Mao Feng. With the morning sun streaming in, this wonderful green tea from China helped shape the perfect start to the day.

I have Billy from Narien Teas to thank for this tea, which filled me with its warmth and restfulness. It toyed with my senses. A dry aroma of cabbage washes into a bouquet of strawberry and grape once the tea is infused. Later, I smell grass and vegetables. Mao Feng is light but playful, understated in its gracefulness. Its colour is a pale golden green; its flavour dominated by leafy green vegetables.

Southern Zhejiang, in eastern China, is a rugged and beautiful part of China. Zhejiang’s most famous contribution to the world of tea is Longjing, or Dragonwell, which comes from the northwestern region of Hangzhou. Mao Feng itself is a particular style of tea made from a bud and two leaves of equal length. Once processed, they are spindly – long, narrow and sword-like in appearance.

Zhejiang Mao Feng is available from Narien for $13 for 4 oz. Narien offer free shipping for orders over $50. Tea Finely Brewed also get a 10% discount on any purchase from Narien: just quote teafinelybrewed.

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Zhejiang Mao Feng | No comment |
Post categories: Green tea, Tea reviews
Post tags: chinese teas, Mao Feng, Narien Teas, Zhejiang Province

Once upon a time, Camellia sinensis (the tea plant) was only found in Southeast Asia, especially China. But the humble tea plant had legs: Camellia sinensis spread to Japan in the 6th century; to India and Sri Lanka in the hands of the British Empire; and in recent decades, it has sailed across to Africa and South America.

And now, you can grow tea in your own backyard.

Narien Teas are selling packs of 10 tea seeds for $9. Narien have been kind enough to offer a 10% discount to Tea Finely Brewed readers: just quote “teafinelybrewed” when you’re checking out (Note: Apply this discount code to anything you buy from Narien – seeds, tea and teaware).

Tea plants prefer a tropical or sub-tropical climate, but you could still grow tea in cooler climates. Grow the tea in a pot and bring it in during winter; or grow the tea in a greenhouse.

I’m tempted to try planting a few seeds in a pot here, to see how they fare in the Melbourne winter. Climate may not be the only problem though: tea also needs 50 inches of rainfall per year, something which drought-ridden Victoria may not be able to supply.

Still, the thought of growing your own tea is mighty appealing. I’m not expecting to grow Australia’s answer to the Arya Ruby or anything, but it would be fascinating and immensely rewarding to grow, pluck and process your own tea.

Have you tried growing your own tea? I’d love to hear about your experiences!

More information about growing tea:

• Growing Tea at Home
• How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Green Tea Plant
• Camellia sinensis article on Wikipedia
• Tea Harvesting and Growing
• Tea Growing
• Local Food, Tea Plants
• Planting Tea Seeds

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Grow Your Own Tea | No comment |
Post categories: Miscellaneous
Post tags: camellia sinensis, growing tea, Narien Teas, tea seeds