Hong Yu – Ruby Red Black Tea

Hong Yu, or Ruby Red, is regarded as a world-class premium black tea. Developed from a cross between an Assam cultivar and a native Taiwanese mountain tea, it is known for its clarity, balance, and the calm yet invigorating presence it brings to each cup.

The aroma of this tea is striking. When you smell it hot, you sense a complex and weighty depth—almost like opening a sophisticated history book—yet it remains inviting rather than overwhelming. The taste, however, is surprisingly accessible. It carries a layered complexity, but one that feels familiar and easy to appreciate, perhaps because it stems from well-known and well-loved tea lineages. Its sweetness arrives effortlessly, its structure steady but gentle, and the finish settles into a long, quiet warmth.

This special lot comes from a winter harvest of large-leaf cultivars, naturally rich in catechins and polyphenols that transform during oxidation into depth and softness. The tea garden had been left fallow for over a year, allowing the soil to recover and giving rise to leaves that were unusually thick and vibrant.

After processing, the leaves display a deep, ink-black sheen with a hint of violet. The liquor glows a clear amber-red, unfolding with a composed, quietly powerful character that lingers well after each sip.

Whether you already love Ruby Red or are simply curious about world-class black teas, this is a tea well worth seeking out.