Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) vs Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum)

A detailed comparison of two black teas

Quick Verdict

Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) is best for those who prefer wine flavors with a medium body. Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) suits those who enjoy plum notes and a medium mouthfeel.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum)
Category Black Tea Black Tea
Region Qimen County Hangzhou
Oxidation 95% 95%
Caffeine Moderate Moderate
Body Medium Medium
Primary Flavors Wine, Cocoa, Malt Plum, Honey, Floral
Best Brewing 90°C, 20s first steep 90°C, 20s first steep
Re-steep Potential 6 steeps 5 steeps
Price Range $20-$50/50g $20-$45/50g

Flavor Comparison

Keemun (Qimen Black Tea)

The 'Burgundy of teas,' Keemun is prized for its wine-like aroma and smooth, complex flavor. Created in 1875, it became a key component of English Breakfast.

Flavor Notes

Wine Cocoa Malt Orchid Stone Fruit Pine

Finish: Smooth, slightly smoky, lingering

Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum)

Rare black tea from the Longjing region of Hangzhou. Delicate and nuanced with plum-like sweetness and floral notes.

Flavor Notes

Plum Honey Floral Dried Fruit

What This Comparison Really Shows

Category & Origin Context

Both teas sit inside the black tea family, so the comparison is mainly about regional expression, cultivar, and leaf handling. Origin pulls them apart as well: Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) comes from Qimen County, while Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) comes from Hangzhou. This matters because category tells you the processing logic, while region tells you the growing conditions behind aroma, body, and finish.

Tasting Difference

Flavor is the clearest split. Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) emphasizes wine, cocoa, and malt with a medium body; Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) leans toward plum, honey, and floral with a medium body. If you are choosing for aroma, compare the dry leaf and the first rinse; if you are choosing for texture, judge the second and third infusions, where body and aftertaste usually become easier to read.

Brewing Implications

Brewing should not be identical by default. Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) starts best around 90C, while Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) starts around 90C. Keep the leaf ratio steady, then adjust water temperature and steep time; that makes the comparison fair without forcing one tea into another tea's brewing style.

Buying Decision

Choose Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) when you want wine, cocoa, and malt, moderate caffeine, and a medium body. Choose Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) when plum, honey, and floral, moderate caffeine, and a medium body sound more useful. For buying, favor the tea whose origin and processing style match how you actually drink: daily cups reward reliability, while slower gongfu sessions reward aromatic complexity and re-steep performance.

Side-by-Side Tasting Method

In a side-by-side tasting, brew both teas with the same vessel size and similar leaf weight, then adjust only after the first two infusions. Track three things: which tea opens faster, which tea keeps its structure after several steeps, and which finish you still notice after the cup is empty. That tasting method usually reveals more than comparing dry descriptions or price alone.

Common Comparison Mistake

The common mistake is judging both teas by the same standard. Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) should be evaluated as black tea from Qimen County; Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) should be evaluated as black tea from Hangzhou. A tea can be objectively well made yet still be the wrong choice for your preferred water temperature, session length, flavor intensity, or caffeine tolerance.

Which Tea Should You Choose?

Choose Keemun (Qimen Black Tea) if you:

Choose Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) if you:

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