The dry, loose leaves of Qi Men Hong Cha from Tea Drunk in a gaiwan.
The complexity of this Qi Men Hong Cha
What a delicious tea! It is so interesting to smell the leaves and the tea, and compare that with the taste of the tea. Our olfactory system is pretty amazing, especially when it is pared with our ability to taste. This Qi Men Hong Cha smells rich and syrupy, like a dense, tart passion fruit cake. As the tea brews, it transforms from notes of cocoa to blooming flowers. Yet, sipping the tea, the flavor is light and citrusy. Delicious, and beautiful to look at, too!
The brewed liquid from Qi Men Hong Cha from Tea Drunk in a glass fairness pitcher.
What is Qi Men Hong Cha?
So, what is this tea? Qi Men Hong Cha, or Keemun, is a red (black) tea. It originated in Qimen County of Huangshan, which is where the name “Keemun” came from. Furthermore, it is one of the most commonly produced teas in the world. A good-quality Keemun will be incredibly complex in flavor, ranging from floral and sweet to rich and chocolaty.
The wet leaves from Qi Men Hong Cha from Tea Drunk in a glass gaiwan.
About Tea Drunk
Tea Drunk is one of my absolute favorite tea shops. They have such a wealth of knowledge and choose delectable teas to sell. In fact, one of my all-time favorite teas is Semi-Handmade Huo Qing from Tea Drunk. They are a great example of a company that champions tea knowledge, tea quality, and tea farmers.
Local tea shops are a cornerstone of the tea world. Indeed, online shops have expanded the availability of incredible teas. Some of my favorite teas are only available online. But finding a local tea shop or tea house has some benefits that an online store cannot offer. So, if you’re lucky enough to live near a local tea shop, here are 4 reason you should check it out!
Shopping locally means that tea shops can order large quantities of tea. The bigger the shipment, the better for the planet. For example, if 100 people ordered a 7 gram sample of tea, that means 100 packages, 100 boxes, lots of air and empty space around the sample, maybe packing materials, and so on. If a tea store is ordering tea, it’s usually in bulk, which greatly reduces the carbon footprint. This is just a very short overview, but between the CO2 levels of freight and air shipping, and the prevalence of 1-or-2-day shipping, it can be much better for the environment to shop locally. Plus, you get extra points if you can walk or ride your bike there!
A tray with a kyusu tea kettle of Japanese green tea and a slice of cake at Umami Café in the Portland Japanese Garden
Support local businesses
It’s a hard time for small businesses. With the upward trend of online shopping, especially with sites like Amazon, local businesses are struggling. In general, these business owners are folks in our community, families that have been there for generations, or someone’s passion project, and they deserve to be supported.
A view of a wall of different Japanese teas (and a person wondering why I’m taking a picture) at Kettl, a tea store in Brooklyn, New York
Create community at a local tea shop
Public spaces are important. They help us connect with people, and create new connections. Also, being in community can help our mental health. Whether you’re sitting by yourself, doing some work, in a one-on-one, or in a large group, try sipping tea in public.
A view of my favorite tea house in New York called Té Company
Discover and learn about teas at a local tea shop
Lastly, one of the best reasons to check out your local tea shop is to try new teas! In general, the folks running the tea shop will have a lot of experience with tea. They can suggest new teas based on your old favorites. Likewise, they may offer tea samples or classes on tea.
A view of a shelf full of tea and the flavor profiles of each tea at Mei Leaf, a tea store in London
In summary, pull up your favorite search engine and see what your local area offers!
