Note: Their website currently calls this just “Hao Ya A” but when I got the package of it, it is labeled “Guangxi Hao Ya A.” It’s description is that it is their highest quality of Keemun.
A good Keemun is one of my favorite black teas. But I am very particular about my Keemuns. I have sampled many supplier’s Keemuns, from standard grades on up thru 2nd and 1st grades, to Hao Ya A and B grades. I find that while high grades typically look more refined and have a more uniform leaf size, usually a small size, it doesn’t mean their flavor is always superior in my opinion.
A really good Keemun has that unique flavoring of a hint of smokiness mixed with pine/oak nuances and some hints of fruit notes, followed by some notes of chocolate. It’s hard to describe but once you take a good one, I find it not replicated in any other tea.
I pit this particular Keemun Hao Ya A against 3 other Keemuns I found enjoyable from previous samplings in a blind taste test which I and my wife took part in. I equalized all the parameters, side-by-side cups of equal size, same hot water source, equal steep timing, equal sweetener (sugar, I’m not a hard-core tea drinker of black teas who omits sweeteners). This tea came out as our number 1 pick of the 4 Keemuns. It’s leaf quality was not notch and it’s flavor profile was really very good. This is one I could recommend fully to those who love a really good cup of Keemun.
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I agree with your Perfect Keemun requirements, more or less. It’s more grain-y for me that it is for you, it seems, but otherwise I agree. I found that for me the best Keemuns are actually the lower grades, the higher grades often being too floral in flavour rather than smoky.
I have a similar situation with Ceylons. The high-grown ones seem to be the ones preferred by connoisseurs, but the low-grown ones are the ones I like best. I guess they’re looking for extreme subtlety and I’m not. :)
I know what you mean. I have found some Keemun’s that are wonderful but are labeled “Imperial” or “First Grade” or even “Second Grade”. I’ve paid a bunch for Hao Ya “A” and the “B” is better or not as good as the 1st or 2nd grades. That’s why I do taste tests, 4-5 cups brewed identically at one time. It’s fun and I get to know which one I like the best for re-orders. :)
I agree with your Perfect Keemun requirements, more or less. It’s more grain-y for me that it is for you, it seems, but otherwise I agree. I found that for me the best Keemuns are actually the lower grades, the higher grades often being too floral in flavour rather than smoky.
I have a similar situation with Ceylons. The high-grown ones seem to be the ones preferred by connoisseurs, but the low-grown ones are the ones I like best. I guess they’re looking for extreme subtlety and I’m not. :)
I know what you mean. I have found some Keemun’s that are wonderful but are labeled “Imperial” or “First Grade” or even “Second Grade”. I’ve paid a bunch for Hao Ya “A” and the “B” is better or not as good as the 1st or 2nd grades. That’s why I do taste tests, 4-5 cups brewed identically at one time. It’s fun and I get to know which one I like the best for re-orders. :)