Keemun Hao Ya A, Black Tea A Grade

Keemun Hao Ya A Black Tea – Premium Loose Leaf Tea from Qimen, China

Elegantly floral, gently malty and wonderfully smooth, with delicate notes of cocoa and warm biscuit. Our Keemun Hao Ya A Black Tea is a fine Chinese black tea from Qimen County in Anhui Province, the historic home of Keemun tea.

Made from carefully selected young leaves and buds, this Hao Ya A grade tea offers a beautifully balanced cup. Its dark, slender, twisted leaves release a refined aroma of orchid-like flowers, cocoa, toasted biscuit and a subtle woody warmth. The infusion is clear golden-copper to amber, with a silky mouthfeel and a gentle sweetness that lingers after each sip.

Keemun is celebrated for its distinctive fragrance and elegant flavour, and this selection is a particularly inviting expression of the style. It has enough body for a satisfying morning cup, yet remains delicate enough to enjoy slowly in the afternoon.

Unlike black teas chosen mainly for strength, Keemun Hao Ya A rewards attention to aroma and texture. Its floral notes provide lift, while the malty, cocoa-like and biscuity flavours give the cup a comforting richness.

Enjoy it plain to appreciate its complexity, or add a small splash of milk if you prefer a softer, fuller black tea. Either way, this is a rewarding choice for anyone looking to explore premium loose-leaf Chinese black tea.

Origin: Qimen County, Anhui Province, China
Tea Type: Chinese Black Tea (Hong Cha)
Tea Name: Keemun / Qimen Hong Cha
Grade: Hao Ya A
Leaf Selection: Fine Twisted Young Leaves and Buds
Leaf Appearance: Dark, Slender and Carefully Sorted
Aroma: Orchid-Like Florals, Cocoa, Biscuit and Gentle Toast
Flavour: Smooth, Malty, Gently Sweet and Lightly Woody
Liquor Colour: Clear Golden-Copper to Amber
Mouthfeel: Silky, Medium-to-Full Bodied
Caffeine: Naturally Contains Caffeine
Pack Sizes: 50g, 125g and 250g

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What Makes Keemun Hao Ya A Special?

Keemun Hao Ya A is prized for its fine leaf selection and distinctive aromatic character. Rather than offering only strength, it brings together fragrance, texture and a layered flavour profile.

Fine leaves and buds: The product specification describes carefully selected young leaves and buds, hand-sorted for consistency. The slender, twisted appearance is characteristic of refined Keemun production.

Distinctive floral aroma: A delicate orchid-like fragrance gives this black tea an elegant opening.

Warm cocoa and biscuit notes: Beneath the floral aroma lies a gentle richness reminiscent of cocoa, baked biscuit and soft malt.

Smooth texture: The infusion is silky and rounded, with relatively little astringency when brewed to taste.

Natural sweetness: A pleasant sweetness lingers after drinking, balancing the tea's lightly toasted and woody notes.

These qualities make Hao Ya A a compelling choice for anyone who enjoys black tea but wants to explore a more aromatic and nuanced style.

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From Qimen County, Anhui – The Home of Keemun Tea

Keemun tea originates from Qimen County in Anhui Province, eastern China. The name "Keemun" is a traditional English rendering of Qimen, and the tea is known in Chinese as Qimen Hong Cha (祁门红茶).

Keemun became established as a black-tea-producing region during the late nineteenth century. Over time, its elegant fragrance and smooth character earned it an international reputation.

Unlike the bold, brisk style associated with some breakfast teas, fine Keemun is often appreciated for its balance of floral, fruity, malty and lightly toasted flavours.

Our Hao Ya A selection comes from Qimen County, where the local tea-making tradition remains central to the identity of Keemun black tea.

The exact estate, cultivar and harvest year for this particular selection are not specified. Its stated origin, grade and tasting character provide the clearest introduction to the tea.

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What Does Hao Ya A Mean?

Hao Ya A is a recognised commercial-grade designation used for certain fine Keemun black teas. The term is associated with carefully selected, tender leaf material, often including fine buds.

The name is commonly used to distinguish a more refined selection from coarser everyday Keemun grades.

Our Keemun Hao Ya A is described as being hand-sorted and made from fine young leaves and buds. The finished leaves are slender, twisted and dark, with a rich aroma that develops as they warm in the teapot.

In the cup, the fine leaf selection contributes to an elegant balance of floral fragrance, gentle maltiness, cocoa-like depth and a smooth finish.

Although Hao Ya A is widely used as a premium commercial designation, exact grading practices can differ between producers. The most meaningful qualities are therefore the leaf appearance, provenance, careful sorting and finished flavour.

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Why Is Keemun Sometimes Called the Burgundy of Teas?

Keemun is sometimes described as the "Burgundy of teas", a traditional comparison that reflects its reputation for elegance, aromatic complexity and a smooth, lingering finish.

It is a poetic description rather than an official grade or geographical classification.

The comparison is easy to appreciate when tasting a fine Keemun such as Hao Ya A. The aroma is layered rather than overpowering, with delicate florals above a warm foundation of cocoa, biscuit and malt.

The liquor has a clear amber-copper colour and a silky body, making it satisfying without feeling excessively heavy.

Keemun's fragrance is one of its most distinctive characteristics. Tea drinkers sometimes refer to this as the classic Keemun aroma, a combination of floral, fruity and gently roasted impressions that gives the tea its unmistakable identity.

For a tea lover who enjoys exploring subtle differences between black teas, Hao Ya A offers plenty to discover.

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How Is Keemun Black Tea Made?

Keemun is a Chinese black tea, known in China as hong cha, meaning red tea, a reference to the colour of its brewed liquor.

Traditional black tea processing generally involves withering, rolling or shaping, oxidation and drying. These stages transform fresh tea leaves into the dark, aromatic finished tea.

For Keemun, careful handling and sorting are particularly important to achieving a refined appearance and consistent flavour.

Our Hao Ya A selection is described as using carefully selected young leaves and buds, which are sorted to produce the fine, twisted finished leaf.

When brewed, the leaves release an inviting aroma of flowers, cocoa and toasted biscuit. The tea's subtle smoky or toasty impression is part of its tasting profile and should not be confused with the pronounced pine-smoking associated with traditional smoked Lapsang Souchong.

The result is a smooth, elegant black tea with a pleasantly rounded body and a sweet finish.

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Tasting Notes – Orchid, Cocoa and Warm Biscuit

Attribute	Description
Dry Leaf Aroma	Gentle florals, cocoa and warm toasted biscuit
Infused Aroma	Orchid-like flowers, soft malt and delicate woody warmth
Flavour	Smooth, malty and gently sweet, with cocoa and biscuit notes
Liquor Colour	Clear golden-copper to amber
Mouthfeel	Silky, rounded and medium-to-full bodied
Astringency	Gentle when brewed to taste
Finish	Soft sweetness with lingering floral and toasted notes

The first impression is beautifully aromatic. A gentle floral fragrance rises from the cup, followed by warm cocoa and biscuit notes.

On the palate, the tea has a satisfying but controlled richness. Malt and delicate toast provide depth, while a silky texture and gentle sweetness keep the flavour balanced.

As the tea cools slightly, the floral character can become more noticeable, allowing the different layers to emerge.

For the most complete tasting experience, enjoy the first cup without milk or sugar. This makes it easier to appreciate the tea's natural fragrance and lingering sweetness.

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How to Brew Keemun Hao Ya A Black Tea

Keemun Hao Ya A is easy to prepare in a conventional teapot, mug infuser or gaiwan. The best approach is to begin with a balanced brewing ratio and adjust the strength to suit your taste.

Western-Style Brewing

1. Warm your teapot or infuser with a little hot water, then empty it.
2. Add approximately 3–4g of Keemun Hao Ya A per 200ml of water.
3. Heat fresh water to 95–100°C.
4. Steep for 3–5 minutes, depending on your preferred strength.
5. Strain the leaves completely and enjoy.

A shorter three-minute infusion will generally give a lighter, more floral cup. A four- to five-minute infusion brings out more malt, cocoa and biscuity depth.

For the first tasting, we recommend trying the tea plain. If you enjoy black tea with milk, a small splash can complement the richer malty notes.

Gongfu Brewing

For a more detailed tasting, use approximately 4–5g of leaves in a 100–120ml gaiwan, with water at 90–95°C. Begin with a 15–20 second infusion, then increase the steeping time gradually across later rounds.

This method allows you to appreciate the changing balance of floral, cocoa and toasted notes.

Brewing Method	Tea and Water	Suggested Time
Western-Style – Light	3g / 200ml / 95–100°C	3 minutes
Western-Style – Rich	4g / 200ml / 95–100°C	4–5 minutes
Gongfu – First Infusion	4–5g / 100–120ml / 90–95°C	15–20 seconds
Gongfu – Second to Fourth	Same leaves, fresh hot water	25–35 seconds
Gongfu – Later Infusions	Same leaves, fresh hot water	Increase gradually to taste

Brewing tip: A rinse is not necessary for this fine black tea. To preserve its delicate fragrance, use the first infusion as part of your tasting rather than automatically discarding it.

If the tea tastes too strong or astringent, shorten the steeping time or use a little less leaf on your next brew.

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Keemun Hao Ya A vs Other Chinese Black Teas

Chinese black teas offer an impressive range of flavours, from delicate florals to rich honeyed sweetness and pronounced malt.

Tea	Typical Character	Best For
Keemun Hao Ya A	Floral, cocoa-like, malty and gently biscuity	Drinkers seeking a refined, balanced black tea
Unsmoked Lapsang Souchong	Floral, honeyed, fruity and lightly woody	Those who enjoy aromatic black tea without smoke
Yunnan Dian Hong	Often rich, honeyed, malty and naturally sweet	Drinkers who enjoy a fuller, sweeter black tea
Traditional Smoked Lapsang Souchong	Pine-smoked, woody and bold	Those who prefer a pronounced smoky flavour

If you enjoy the floral elegance of Keemun but would like to explore another historic Chinese black tea, try our Grade A Unsmoked Lapsang Souchong.

For a richer honeyed profile, explore our Yunnan Big Leaf Honey Fragrant Dianhong.

Each tea offers a different expression of Chinese black tea craftsmanship, making them enjoyable to compare side by side.

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Why Choose Our Keemun Hao Ya A Black Tea?

• Qimen County origin: From Anhui Province, the historic home of Keemun tea.
• Hao Ya A grade: A fine-leaf selection associated with premium Keemun.
• Carefully sorted leaves: Slender, twisted young leaves and buds.
• Floral fragrance: Elegant orchid-like aromas.
• Warm cocoa and biscuit notes: A comforting richness beneath the floral character.
• Smooth malty flavour: Balanced and gently sweet.
• Clear amber liquor: Attractive golden-copper colour.
• Silky mouthfeel: Medium-to-full body with gentle astringency.
• Versatile preparation: Enjoy plain or with a little milk.
• Three pack sizes: Available in 50g, 125g and 250g.

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Ingredients

Black tea leaves (Camellia sinensis).

The cocoa, biscuit, floral and malty descriptions refer to the tea's natural tasting notes, not added flavourings.

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Storage Recommendations

Store Keemun Hao Ya A in a clean, dry, well-sealed container away from direct sunlight, moisture, excessive heat and strong odours.

Fine black tea can absorb surrounding aromas, so avoid keeping it near spices, coffee or scented household products. Reseal the packaging carefully after each use to help preserve the tea's delicate floral fragrance and warm cocoa notes.

For everyday drinking, keep the tea at a stable room temperature and use it within the recommended shelf life for the best aromatic character.

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Discover the Elegance of Keemun Hao Ya A

Our Keemun Hao Ya A Black Tea is a rewarding choice for anyone who enjoys black tea with fragrance, depth and a smooth finish.

From its carefully sorted, twisted leaves to its clear amber liquor, it brings together the distinctive qualities of fine Qimen black tea: delicate florals, gentle malt, cocoa-like richness and a lingering natural sweetness.

Enjoy it as a quiet morning cup, a refined afternoon tea or part of a tasting session exploring China's most celebrated black-tea styles.

For another aromatic selection, discover our Unsmoked Grade A Lapsang Souchong. If you prefer a richer, honeyed flavour, try our Yunnan Big Leaf Honey Fragrant Dianhong.

Explore more traditional Chinese black teas in our Black and Puer Tea Collection or discover other specialist selections in our Premium & Rare Loose-Leaf Teas Collection.