Hongyu Hongcha Nantou Ruby #18 SUN MOON LAKE BLACK TEA

The wet leaf has the most interesting smell. So much so that I am having trouble being able to put a descriptor to it. Perhaps its hints of eucalyptus in mahogany sawdust in a mixture of compost and wet leaves. It’s such a complex aroma! Somewhat medicinal as well but not in a bad way. A silky mouth feel and dark, clear amber in color. Quite an earthy tea. The aroma carries over into the after taste but the first time the liquid hits your tongue a full force of earthy flavors assault you. I’m not really sure I would say it’s minty like their website describes but it does have that slight mouth clean sensation that mint gives you.

Thanks to Fong Mong for this sample. Today we have up a black tea from Taiwan. Ive tried a few black tea’s from Taiwan and usually they are very good.

I started by heating the gaiwan, and using about 205 water. I figured I wanted to brew this a little hot and strong to get all the flavors. I get aroma of chocolate, mineral, citrus, and a bit of sweetness from like caramel. The tea liq our is dark red brown, and fairly clear. It has a flavor matching the aroma profile.

Second brew I get a bit more spice, possibly nutmeg or allspice. Tiny bit of astringency in this brew as well as a stronger citrus. Very nice though still, a bit of pleasant sourness as well, perfect for a get up in the morning tea to wake you up.

Excellent black tea, recommended for anyone who enjoys a good cup of black in the morning.

I almost don’t want to admit how long it took me to figure out the plastic piece across the top of the package. But I figured it’d out. I did it. All by myself, and before drinking my tea!

The dry leaves smell so strongly of cocoa! I had my mom smell them because I thought it so novel, but she couldn’t smell anything. :/ I did a short Western-style first steep, and on top of the chocolate smell is… grapes? Yes, that there be a grape smell.

Oh, it tastes just as good as it smells. How can this be? Just when I think all of my socks have been blown off… A bit vegetative/vegetal/planty taste peeking through. I totally skipped the sweetener on this one because it smelled so great I didn’t want to risk ruining it.

I wish it would cool down faster. So I can drink it faster.

Second steep called for sweetener, as it’s turned more vegetal than the first steep. Like a totally different tea. Hmmm. I wonder what I did to displease these great tea leaves?

I let the third steep cool to room temperature and the candy flavor came back. Yay! :D