2025 Sunrise Qimen Chinese Black Tea

Sunrise Qimen (aka Keemun) shows what made Qimen tea a sensation when it first appeared on the scene in the 1870s. The liquor is a gorgeous dark amber color with aromas of honey, orchid, and a touch of warm spice. It's exceptionally smooth with a clean, sweet finish reminiscent of light brown sugar and dried fruit, with the characteristic floral notes and sweetness that Qimen is famous for. This "Qimen fragrance" is so distinctive that it's actually a recognized aroma category in international tea markets, often described as orchid-like or rose-scented with hints of fruit.

Sunrise Qimen represents Qimen black tea as it was originally made, before the export market's demand for uniform broken grades and English Breakfast blends dictated how most Qimen was processed.  Wang Chang, the tea maker behind this particular lot, is recognized as a national Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor for his skill in traditional Qimen production, continuing the heritage production methods that have defined great Qimen for over a century.

Late March 2025 harvest from Qimen County, Anhui Province. Free from agrochemical inputs.