Ruby black tea

Brandy scent

When we mention Taiwanese tea, many customers respond with a lack of interest, "Oh, so they have tea in Taiwan too."

I myself had a preconceived notion that Taiwanese tea was oolong tea, so when I was first introduced to black tea, I didn't really get it.

However, if you think about it, Taiwan has the famous "Dongfang Meiren" which is classified as oolong tea, but is highly fermented and is more like black tea than oolong tea.

In short, Taiwan also specializes in highly fermented teas such as Oriental Beauty, and these techniques are fully reflected in the production of Red Buck black tea.

Although the appearance of red apple black tea is plain, those who drink it are surprised by its strong personality. The most distinctive feature of this tea is its unique flavor.

The general opinions of people who have tried it are that it has a cognac-like aroma and a strong minty aroma. Ceylon tea Uva Quality Season Tea is often described as having a minty aroma, but the minty aroma of Red Ball Black Tea is incomparable.

It is so strong that it is more like brandy than mint. Because of its strong aroma, it can be enjoyed with milk.

However, for those who want to enjoy the unique characteristics of this tea, we recommend drinking it straight.

History and other knowledge

When Taiwan was under Japanese rule, black tea was produced in order to earn foreign currency, and much of it was exported overseas.

At that time, Japanese experts actively worked on breeding and improving varieties for black tea production, and the technology for black tea production was also established.

Until now, black tea in Taiwan has not been very well known. The reason for this is that production is extremely limited, and the country was unable to meet domestic demand, let alone export it overseas.

For these reasons, Taiwanese black tea is virtually unknown overseas, but what is the level of its quality?

Among all the Taiwanese black teas, the most outstanding in terms of quality is the Red Ball Black Tea. This tea was created by further improving the Assam variety (large leaf variety) that has been cultivated for a long time.

The production area is in the lowlands, where the temperature is around 23°C throughout the year. Harvesting begins in the spring, and the best season in terms of quality is said to be in the summer. When picking, one bud and two to three leaves are picked.

The process itself is not much different from other black teas (picking → withering → rolling → fermentation → drying). We went to Taiwan to research the best quality red apple black tea.

By visiting the area and exploring, we found a Hongyoku black tea (production company) that has both a refreshing and sweet aroma, almost like mint, and a mellow and sweet taste. Of course, the tea leaves are grown in organic tea fields.

Quality Assessment Criteria