Form
Loose leaf
Leaf
Black
Brew temp
212°F
Steep time
3-4 min
The verdict
Where this pick fits.
The classic Anhui black — winey, cocoa-noted, just a hint of orchid. The original ingredient in English Breakfast blends. Drinks well at strength, holds up to milk.
The Anhui original. Winey, cocoa, a hint of orchid. It earned its spot in our lineup by solving the stage it's supposed to solve — without pretending to solve every stage after it.
Quick take
- Best for: breakfast blend base, milk + sugar, cocoa lovers
- Format: Loose leaf
- Leaf: Black
- Caffeine: high
Best for
Where it earns its keep.
- · breakfast blend base
- · milk + sugar
- · cocoa lovers
Head to head
See how it stacks up.
Single-origin loose vs. Bagged blend
Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black vs. Tazo Awake English Breakfast Black Tea
The leaf that gets named, or the leaf that gets blended.
Honeyed Yunnan vs. Winey Anhui
Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black vs. Yunnan Dian Hong Gold Tips Black Tea Loose Leaf
Two Chinese blacks. The sweet one, and the complex one.
Common questions
Before you pour.
Is the Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black worth it? +
The classic Anhui black — winey, cocoa-noted, just a hint of orchid. The original ingredient in English Breakfast blends. Drinks well at strength, holds up to milk. We keep it in the lineup for breakfast blend base and milk + sugar.
How much caffeine is in Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black? +
It sits in the high range, which is typical for black tea. A longer steep pulls more caffeine; pull it early in the 3-4 min window to keep the cup lighter.
What water temperature and steep time does Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black need? +
Brew at 212°F for 3-4 min. Our brewing guide has the full method, ratio, and water notes.
Where can you buy the Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black? +
Through the Amazon link on this page. Buying via our link costs you nothing extra and keeps xxxtea's reviews independent.
House rule
xxxtea earns a small commission on Amazon links. Your price is identical. Our take doesn't soften for anyone.