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China is best known for its green and oolong teas, but there are numerous famous varieties of black tea originating in China. This article gives an overview of several of the most well-known types of these Chinese teas.

Keemun:

Keemun, also spelled Qi men, is a type of black tea named for its region of origin, Qi men county in Anhui province. Keemun often has an aroma suggestive of dried fruid, and has been described as “the Burgundy of Chinese teas”. Keemun comes in many special grades and varieties, the most desirable of which are Keemun Hao Ya A and B, and Keemun Mao Feng.

In addition to teas produced in Qi men county, there are a number of teas produced in other parts of China that closely resemble Keemun in both production process and flavor.

Lapsang Souchong:

Lapsang souchong is an unusual tea in many respects. It is a souchong, meaning that it is made out of larger, more mature leaves of the tea plant, unlike most teas which are made from the top two leaves and the leaf bud. This results in a more mellow flavor (smooth, with little bitterness) and a lower caffeine content. However, lapsang souchong is dried over smoke from a pine fire, imparting a distinctive and strong smoky and piney aroma to the tea. Lapsang souchong is a favorite of some tea drinkers, but its smokiness is so intense that it is often blended with other Chinese black teas that have more bitterness but no smoky qualities, to form a blend which is usually called Russian caravan.

Yunnan Black Teas:

Black teas from Yunnan province are known as dian hong or Yunnan red. These teas can be quite powerful, and are often described as having a peppery quality, quite unique among black teas. A special grade of dian hong which has golden-colored leaves is called Yunnan gold; Yunnan gold has a high portion of leaf buds and is thus higher in caffeine than other black teas. A tea similar to yunnan gold, called golden monkey, is also made in Fujian province. Yunnan gold is sometimes rolled into a spiral shape, yielding a tea called yunnan spiral buds or golden bi luo.

Panyang Congou:

Panyang congou is a type of black tea from Fujian province in southern China. Congou teas are made from larger, more mature leaves and not buds. Panyang congou has an older history and more traditional production process than some of the other Chinese black teas, and is often described as a classic black tea.

Bohea:

Bohea is famous for being the type of tea thrown overboard in the Boston tea party. Bohea has a smoky aroma somewhat similar to Lapsang souchong. It is not as widely available as many of the other varieties mentioned above but it is a historically interesting tea, and it can still be purchased from a few sources.

Try them yourself:

You can only learn so much about tea by reading about it; the best way to gain a deeper understanding of these teas is to try them for yourself. You may be surprised at the diversity of flavors and aromas that these and other varieties offer.