The masterful magic of the Great Keemun
This tea is not born of chance: it embodies the meeting of meticulous craftsmanship and inspiration from nature. It all begins in the gentle mists of Qimen, where the choice of the polyphenol-rich "Zhuye" cultivar shapes the coppery color and aromatic complexity of the future Keemun. The freshly picked leaves begin their journey with a slow and steady withering process, which softens their texture and amplifies a whole range of notes (orchid, cocoa, honey).
Next comes the rolling, a step entirely done by hand for the finest teas: the maestros twist each leaf, breaking the cell walls and revealing essential oils that will give the liqueur its unique character. Here, mastery is not merely technical: it is a sensitive art, where the pressure applied, the time, and the temperature are adjusted according to the tea master's intuition.
Oxidation, a crucial stage, is monitored like a precious treasure: just a few hours are enough to transform the color and aromatic complexity of Grand Keemun. It is at this stage that the alchemy takes place, giving birth to the "Qimen Hong": an enchanting fragrance of orchid, smoky wood, and candied fruit. Finally, the cooking takes place over a low flame, often charcoal, to seal in this aromatic profile without any astringency.
Beyond science and method, it is the producer's intuition that brings the leaf to life and imbues it with its soul. The higher grades are sorted one last time, retaining only the thin, whole leaves, guaranteeing a long and silky cup.
In the case of our Grand Keemun, the FOP (Flowery Orange Pekoe) grade signifies that the tea is composed primarily of delicate young buds and the two youngest leaves, guaranteeing meticulous and refined harvesting. This classification, initially reserved for the finest Darjeeling teas, is applied here to an exceptional Chinese tea to highlight the finesse of the picking and the richness of the golden tips present in the leaf.
Why succumb to Keemun?
Grand Keemun is one of the ten great teas that represent China's global influence. We are proud to offer it in our collection: it fully embodies the ancestral expertise of Chinese masters, heirs to a precious and almost secret production tradition.
These "ambassador teas" are emblematic blends that reflect the richness, diversity, and excellence of China's tea heritage. Selected from among the most illustrious, such as Grand Keemun, Longjing, Tieguanyin, and Pu-erh, they represent China on the international stage: true standard-bearers, they combine millennia-old history, unique terroirs, and know-how passed down from generation to generation, becoming living messengers of the art and tradition of tea throughout the world.
