Falling in Love with Keemun Black Tea

Welcome to Anhui in China where we explore the delights of Keemun (Qimen) Black Tea.
Keemun is a historic black tea famously used in the original English Breakfast blend before the age of tea bags and has become a little bit ignored in recent years with fashions moving to Oolongs and PuErh tea. But, we traveled to China to turn the spotlight on a gorgeous tea.
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[@CashRobinson]

With this kind of production value Don could easily host a TV show just about about tea

[@jscottp77]

JeffersonC YES! A TEA-V show!!

[@mariannefleur6671]

I said: BBC needs to get Don on board, or he’ll put them out of biz. Keep up the fantastic job! I want to to to Anhui now! 😇

[@SkeepyJeepyJohnson]

Agreed

[@jeremyhatch1338]

I specifically went out and bought a new Chromecast yesterday morning so I could watch these videos (this and the one on longjing, 2 of my favorite teas recently) on my TV. Best TV I’ve seen in a long while. Looking forward to seeing what else they’ve made!

[@officiallynmotion7100]

I was thinking the same thing. Production level is unmatched on local root deep tea production. I love all these guys. Lots of work underrated.

[@mookjong]

These are straight up some of the best videos on youtube, not even tea related, just incredible work.

[@ItsMisterEp]

i love getting cozy and watching these tea trips! its shows just how much works goes into getting it into the cup!

[@galen8510]

I must say even as a Chinese, i learnt more about tea from you than any other Chinese resources available! Keep up the good work!

[@ArThePig]

同意

[@erik_carter_art]

I love videos like this that go deep into a subject that the host is passionate about. This particularly makes me realize just how crucial some people's sense of taste/smell is for their profession (like sommeliers, food critics, etc.). I wonder if people with this sort of job take even greater precautions than the average person to avoid getting Covid, which can damage the sense of taste and smell!

[@doryman3]

I have never had the yen to travel through Asia, but Don and Celine's videos have changed that! For your fourth (fifth?) career, Don, please guide tea tours around the world. We could start with a pony-trekking scotch tour of Scotland, then China for tea, pairing the two along the way. Yikes, what an adventure! (BTW, we'd have to take Peruvian chocolate from home, as my vacation time is limited). I love black tea, but I don't tell tea snobs because they are typically all about oolongs, whites, and the one yellow they sipped years ago. Thank you for advertising the complexity and credibility of black tea (and ergo, black tea lovers). If someone were to do the same for country music, I'd be set!

[@MeiLeaf]

What a trip of tasting and adventures that would be!

[@changfachou]

My gosh. Thank you for making a video like this... I really enjoyed it. Please keep these coming!

[@imJizzlah]

I would honestly pay for your tea traveling videos, they are so insanely good (but probably 10x times more time intensive to produce then tasting vids). Keep them coming! :D

[@TaijiMassage]

Wow wow wow, fantastic leaps in editing, planning, and shooting these videos, very appealing to the eye, and as always great information on one of my favourite teas as of late. Keep up the stellar work very excited for more content!

[@janiepereira940]

Thank you for giving us a little taste of Anhui, the landscape shots were just incredible. I feel like I went on holiday! As always it was great learning about tea production. I'm a big fan of black tea and hope more people get to appreciate it

[@benh.1795]

Don, thanks for putting so much time into this video. The drone shots were amazing, as was the tour!

[@michaeljay7949]

Yep - that drone work is really nice!

[@justchillin131]

Can't tell you how much I love this tea!

[@btcpavao]

Wow! This was one of the most interesting, educational and informative videos on chinese tea I've ever seen. Beautiful scenery in Qimen, Anhui. Can't imagine how good that tea must have felt and tasted. :) Good luck, much love, joy and happiness from Croatia!

[@leciobi]

I don't usually comment on videos on youtube, but in this case I simply need to say that this is really great work. I love your very crisp, lucid way of explaining things and your enthusiasm and passion are contagious. Thank you so much for this uplifting work!

[@Troglor048]

Little more than three minutes in and I already want to get this tea.

[@BS38114]

Testing Keemun a few minutes ago for the first time. Really nice tea with a special character. Love this dry plum aromatics.

[@kingrichardiii6280]

Just tasted the maofung and was flored. Fruity and earthy taste that moves toward the earthy taste as you brew and very smooth texture. Can't wait to taste the Keemun Superior.

[@grandam195]

Thank you for this video. I have been trying to remember the variety I used to get at the mall store as a young woman. I bought several varieties of high quality tea ages ago. Now I know what to search for. Keemun is my favorite tea variety.

[@barbaramurphree7357]

This was a master video. I, am blown away by your work. Gordon.

[@plantplanet3943]

Awesome documentary about tea, thank you for sharing! Always educational to watch.😊

[@patrtickjulianhuwyler]

Brilliant video! Just an excellent session-Keemun is certainly one of my favourites.

[@TillsTech]

i freaking love these travel vlogs, they make this channel so unique

[@Lou.B]

Excellent tea expedition! Thank You!

[@maxzyklas3704]

Great review . So much better than the Reviews you make at Home. Love it!

[@eclipse73241]

i bought this tea after seeing this video, and i am on a journey with mei leaf teas, with it came FREE sampler of Keemun Maofeng and while over the last few months i have been enjoying your teas, i did not as yet compare the two Keemun teas MIND BLOWN....how is that even possible

[@maresdvd]

I love these tea trips videos sooo much, thank you very much guys! Also the nature looks just stunning, I would really love to take my bike there sometimes. :)

[@Tasman_Tea]

So great to see the process 'first hand'. Brilliant! Thanks Don and Celine!

[@ChristopherLopezDrums]

Don: "Just for a moment forget about tea" Me: "I can't, tea is life." haha!

[@woody3307]

Brother Don, Thank you for this moment of zen and also bringing us the deep joy and insight and connection with this tea and many others. You are indeed the Bodhisattva of tea nirvana. Wonderful !!

[@theteasessions]

I think this might be one my most favourite Mei Leaf videos. Loved those drone aerial shots, and the editing was so good on this video! These insights and walk-throughs of the tea processing method or so valuable for tea lovers. Thank you so much, great great video!

[@MaxAmSax]

Amazing the amount of work you put into these videos! Thanks for showing us the factory and explaining every step in such detail :)

[@claudesylvanshine6551]

Drinking a keemun with osmanthus flower as I watch this.

[@ootea6842]

Love you Don! Such a great presentation with unique Keemun black tea, I just love handrolled tea always.

[@antoniotugucci9262]

You are a Legend Don.

[@UnixGoldBoy]

You are amazing! The best resource for tea on KZbin!

[@lightningslim]

Drinking Keemun whilst watching this video 😂 A tea I discovered later on my tea journey, but now one of my favourites!

[@MrCage58]

Another brilliant video, where 30 minutes seemed like 3! Thank you so much for all your guidance, knowledge and passion!

[@officiallynmotion7100]

@25:32 is the best moment of the video ever! Just do it. This guy wanted to help end the video on a high note. Not sponsored by Nike, but a nice jacket. I loved this video.

[@Swordphobic]

My mouth is watering in anticipation of trying some of that freshly made tea...

[@emmalouie1663]

These videos are awesome. So interesting, everyone wonders about tea sources, few people actually go to the source and take beautiful videos of it.

[@davidedelman15]

fantastic video. thank you for helping to educate people like myself who passionately love tea

[@pde442]

Great video

[@lucazanotta7349]

Fantastic video! Thanks 4 sharing! I really love keemun and i should entousiast to tray your choises, but unfortunely out of stock in your on line shop. Can’t wait for 😀

[@alweingilang4251]

Taiwan oolong adventure please.. Hihi

[@timeck7033]

What an awesome video!! The production quality is amazing!

[@BaptisteMarieYT]

I have to stop the video to make black tea for drinking with it. These tea trips are true gems for tea learners like me (along with the more geeky tea masterclass)

[@maksspiga1106]

what means Qimen "Hao Ya"? what does it say about the quality or the picking and processing?

[@davidgo8874]

This was an excellent documentary! Subscribed!

[@mindfulteas9413]

Incredible job you did here guys.. The video is awesome!

[@surrealnight5230]

Very nice job, thanks. I love these type of videos.

[@pkrit]

I watched this vdo seceral times, it’s so good.

[@grzegorzcichosz8240]

how does tea brewed from fresh leaf tastes like? Since you can brew fresh herbs (eg mint) as well as brew them dry (that's what green tea is about i think) so can you try to brew fresh tea? probably not as good but still worth trying, isn't it?

[@Chelgrian]

Leafs me stunned! Great Video! Just want to go to China.

[@jenkyc7313]

Seriously, I've never been this excited about tea until I saw your channel and store! Thank you so much! PS: I hope you restock Master Wu pots SOON.

[@MeiLeaf]

Eta August for Master Wu Pots as he is busy making a fresh batch for us.

[@jenkyc7313]

Mei Leaf So Excited!!! 😍😍😍

[@ranit9cupsoftea842]

Brilliant as usual...well done...

[@malokegames]

I always watch the videos drinking some tea, it's a torture to not do so :) For this one, I prepared my last portion of a black Keemun Mao Feng. Have not taested yet those hand rolled ones!

[@supermad79]

Thank you for this interesting and informative video about hong cha. I can't wait to taste it! Hopefully there still will be some in your tea house in August. ;-)

[@jat2319]

Excellent video. Well done.

[@WaruiTanuki]

9:30 In the background.. Did he find a bug or something? Anyway, the sourcing videos are really interesting.

[@calprimo11]

Wow, Don, did you get a drone? We're edging into BBC Earth territory here...!

[@lemmontree1]

Dude!

[@nukiesduke6868]

Hmm drying cannabis is done slowly over the course of ideally 2 weeks, the reason being is it breaks down chlorophyll. So I wonder if the same logic applies to tea. As in would it actually be bad to rapid dry them like that and would having a much longer, slower dry time be much more beneficial regarding tastes?

[@petra.andersen]

Was watching the video while drinking some 2018 Qimen Mao Feng Imperial from my local teahouse - full of really sweet caramel and pear compote. For sure will get some Mei Leaf one and compare :-)

[@yoda112358]

I wonder if you could do a video discussing the biodiversity impacts of tea agriculture. I was just in Colombia looking at variations in coffee agroforestry and how this impacts biodiversity, and it would be great to have some more information on tea.

[@tkgawa]

TFW you have the same (albeit common) gong dao bei as the village chief.

[@frostxue2171]

You have my dream job!!

[@timothyjadet]

I give you thumbs up in comment as well 👍

[@Swordphobic]

Btw, I haven´t seen your whole library of videos, but have you done some tasting on those tea like herbs that tea enthusiasts usually enjoy like the latin american Mate or the south african Rooibos?

[@mariannefleur6671]

Swordphobic camelia sinensis is his focus, and it’s quite good that way. I think he does sell herbals- like greek mountain tea - he even has a video on it. 😍😇👌🏻

[@MeiLeaf]

We have not done one on Mate or Rooibos but have done some other tisanes like Greek Mountain, Chrysanthemum, Kuding and Jiao Gu Lan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJzJm4Rslp2hqJI kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX6tZnaulLqJkJY

[@Swordphobic]

Watching them right now ^^

[@babybalrog]

I always wonder when i see this... Do the farmers get upset with you for handling leaves with your bare hands? And the Same when you put leaves into a Gawain? I see you handle it with your hands, but does that transfer oils to the tea?

[@mariannefleur6671]

babybalrog tea rinse, baby!

[@MeiLeaf]

No, I think that they actually really like the fact that I am so enthused by their leaves. Sure, handling leaves will probably transfer some oils but nothing noticeable unless you handle with dirty hands. I am so used to seeing farmers and producers handle tea in this way that I never really think much of it and it feels more tactile during a session.

[@mercurywoodrose]

peets used to sell a premium version called "lion mountain" keemun. wonder if its really a thing. that was in the 80s and 90s.

[@JuliaZisman]

If you are looking for the farmers, who's going to process the the leaves? Thank you for the video. Very interesting!

[@TheFootballPlaya]

Cool video! Really insightful into the full scale process of this awesome tea. Myself, I've been drinking Keemun Mao Feng for a little while now; its absolutely incredible. My go to black tea. It's as if it's begging for milk to poured in with it, it has a nice milky flavor; but I drink as it is (straight). Anybody else got any suggestions for other teas to try? Black? Green? Pu-erh? lmk

[@mario7027]

Anhui looks amazing, need to add that to my list of places to visit! The tea factory looks very cool, and very clean too for China. Need to try out the tea soon, great video!

[@iwilldowhatiwannado843]

it is so good to see the tea farm and the tea manufacturing plant. However, 4:43 the guy is smoking inside of the plant, and I worry that they might have no sense of hygiene. it is not allowed to smoke inside of food manufacturing places. if he did not wash his hand and rolls the tea, or touch it. that's terrible.. also chemicals from smoke in the air might get stick to the leaves too..

[@TS50ER]

I need an 'aroma button' on my pc!

[@105rogue]

Could you do a video on the correct way to brew black tea? Do you rinse do you not?

[@hubermomof4]

When the village chief was making you some tea, he had a kettle set up that I've seen in other videos in China... I'm fascinated by it and really want to know what it consists of. It looks like it has a faucet to pour water straight into the kettle and then a bowl that keeps the cups clean and warm. Have you taken a closer look at these? do they have a special name? Do you know where I could get one lol. :) Excellent, excellent video by the way, I'm ordering some superior keemun right now!

[@mario7027]

They use them everywhere in tea shops in China, the pot is full of the small drinking cups kept clean in boiling water, as they'll need many of them for their many guests coming around to taste teas (I'm not sure an average home setup would need all those cups 😁), and having kettle and water supply together makes it convenient to get boiling water ready quickly. These devices can be easily found in tea markets in China, but might be hard to find outside of China (and also since they handle electricity and water together they might likely not match with western safety standards for that).

[@monahellsingtroili9564]

Thank u for a very informative video on keemun tea but please dont touch your ear before puuting your fingers in the rare leaves in the tea factory

[@bigz2127]

Will tea be different if you start it from a seed versus a cutting?

[@onestupidperson8354]

Typically with things that you consume one would be concerned about contamination. I've seen in lots of your videos that yourself and the workers handle the leaves with their bare hands. Although the leaves eventually get brewed in hot water that kills off bacteria, what is actual risk of handling the leaves in such a nonchalant way? Not hating by the way. Just genuinely curious 😁

[@MeiLeaf]

Risk is zero I think, as the end product is dry and usually brewed in boiling water. Most true tea is processed entirely by hand from picking to packing and there has never been any issues that I am aware of regarding risk and contamination.

[@dnmotley]

About the zhong and da grades that go into maofeng: are they larger grades of the same fine pickings as xiao, or are they larger lower leaf pickings like for oolong?

[@MeiLeaf]

They are larger vesions of the same pickings.

[@dnmotley]

@@MeiLeaf Thanks

[@SilentButDescriptive]

On your brewing cheat sheet, where it states for example X seconds for first infusion and then like +5 or +10 for the next column, does that refer to every time it's the original steeping time + 5 or 10 seconds what ever it says? Or does it refer to 5 extra seconds on top of how long you took the last time, so each steep is 5 seconds longer than the last?

[@MeiLeaf]

Second one. Keep adding on 5 seconds to your last infusion time so it always keeps on increasing.

[@desertfox432]

They may 🐴 Take our lives 🐴 But they 🐴 Will never take our Keemun!!! 🗡🐴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@lukisIVIII]

I love Keemun and black tea in general but literally every time I drink it I feel like I'm wasting my time which I could spend on drinkin pu-erh... :D

[@13jgasho]

Are "heicha" and "hongcha" both terms refering to black tea in China?

[@MeiLeaf]

No. Heicha refers to post fermented tea like cooked PuErh or other ripe tea. Hongcha is black tea.

[@MrJackBroady]

why do you introduce every video by saying "In this video [subject]. In this video we are...." it sounds super weird

[@kaylantesterman786]

I just started watching these amazing videos about a month ago or so. I just love them so much. Thank you for sharing your adventures and passion.