Compare two teas

Side by side across seven dimensions. There is no verdict and no winner — the purpose is to understand the difference, not to be told which to buy.

Keemun Hao Ya

祁門毫芽

Black tea

Keemun

祁門紅茶

Black tea

Why these two get confused

A grade of Keemun sold under its own name, which leads buyers to treat it as a separate tea. Hao Ya A and B are the top sorted grades of the same product.

Point by point

DimensionKeemun Hao YaKeemun
CategoryBlack tea · fully oxidisedBlack tea · fully oxidised
ProductionIn order: Withering → Strip rolling → Oxidation → Drying. bud and one leaf and spring harvest.In order: Withering → Rolling and shaping → Oxidation → Drying. bud and two leaves and spring harvest.
OriginChina — QimenChina — Qimen
Flavourfruity, smoky, floral and chocolate. medium, smooth and complex in the mouth. Aroma: dried plum, pine, orchid, cocoa. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity.chocolate, woody and smoky. medium and smooth in the mouth. Aroma: cocoa, pine, dried plum, orchid. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity.
BrewingWestern brewing (teapot or mug): 1–1.5 g/100 ml at 88–93 °C, first steep 180s. Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 4–5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 10s of 5 authored.Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1–1.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s. Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 4–5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 10s of 5 authored. Mug infuser brewing: 1–1.5 g/100 ml at 95–101 °C, first steep 180s.
Cultural contextNot recorded for this tea.Not recorded for this tea.
Who may prefer itSomeone who wants presence without being dominated and has drunk enough tea to notice what changes between infusions. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing and is traditionally drunk plain.Someone who wants presence without being dominated and wants to enjoy it on the first cup. It tolerates an imprecise brew.

Nothing above is a recommendation. The last row describes the drinker each tea suits, using each tea’s own authored fields and the same sentence structure for both, so neither can be framed as the safe choice.

Brew Keemun Hao Ya · Brew Keemun