A netizen on PTT asked: “I’m looking for the highest quality Ruby Black Tea. The one I bought from the farmers’ association didn’t suit my taste, and the one from a local famous shop cost NT$360 for a tiny 30g jar, yet the quality was inconsistent. How do you choose top-quality Ruby? Are there any recommended Ruby Black Tea shops?”
Liao Chang Xing's Response: "Ruby Black Tea Recommendation"
Ruby Black Tea produced with different harvesting methods, tea garden management, seasons, and manufacturing techniques varies in quality. Famous shops might just have nice packaging, but that doesn’t mean their quality is good. Here are a few key points for choosing high-quality Ruby Black Tea:
Season: Ruby Black Tea can be harvested from March to October. The advantages of spring and winter teas are low bitterness and high sweetness, but the characteristic astringency of black tea and the unique aroma of the Ruby variety are less pronounced. These two seasons are great for tea lovers who dislike bitterness and prefer a smooth black tea flavor. The best season for black tea is June to July, when the Ruby variety aroma is prominent, the flavor is rich, and the astringency is just right. The second-best is August to September, which has a stronger astringency, making it ideal for those who prefer a bolder taste.
Harvesting Method: The ideal harvesting method is “one bud and two leaves“. While harvesting a third leaf for Ruby would nearly double the weight, the third leaf has a weak flavor. Picking it not only adds no value but also negatively impacts the quality.
Tea Garden Management: Irrigation and fertilization are crucial for tea quality. Fertilizing allows the tea trees to receive nutrients, which in turn makes the tea leaves plump and rich in substance. Stable water supply is also essential after fertilization so that the fertilizer can break down smoothly for the tea trees to easily absorb.
The Highest Grade of Ruby Black Tea
In addition to the points above, there is another kind of Ruby Black Tea that every tea merchant loves: Ruby Black Tea infested by the Green Leaf Hopper. The resulting black tea carries a honey aroma, making it the finest “Honey Ruby Black Tea“. However, this type of tea is rare and a matter of luck. Since the green leaf hopper is a tea garden pest that can affect tea tree health and the following season’s yield if the infestation is severe, tea farmers certainly do not wish for this to happen, which makes Honey Ruby Black Tea extremely uncommon.
Aside from Honey Ruby Black Tea, if you want to purchase the highest-grade Ruby Black Tea, you can also look for “Yuchi Township Competition Tea“. This tea has been officially evaluated and certified for guaranteed quality. The downside is that the price is higher, making it suitable for tea lovers with a higher budget.