About this tea

The red teas grown in the Mingjian Village are supremely special. Grown from cultivars catalogued in the Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station registry by the Taiwanese government, these teas are truly notable and famous for their distinct characteristics.

Hong Yu 18 is also referred to as Ruby 18, which was originally developed by cross-breeding a wild Taiwan tea variety (Ye Shan Cha) with a Burmese broad-leaf strain of Camellia irrawadiensis. The name Ruby 18 refers to the brilliance of this red tea and the number by which Hong Yu was catalogued in the Taiwan cultivar registry officially in 1999.

If you’re looking for an amazing example of gongfu red tea, this year’s Ruby 18 selection is it with its special balance of deep taste, heady aroma and patience of brewing. The light fermentation levels this year create effusive notes of wintergreen, fresh spices with the backup sweetness of red dates and brown sugar. This tea is invigorating with strong tea qi and energy.