With so many sellers of Ruby Black Tea on the market and varying quality, how can you find the absolute best Ruby Black Tea? This article will guide you in choosing the finest and most suitable premium Ruby Black Tea based on your needs.
How to Buy Premium Ruby Black Tea
For Impressive Gifting: There is no second choice—go for the award-winning Ruby Black Tea competition grade. Yuchi Township holds a black tea competition every October featuring four varieties: Large-Leaf (Assam), Taiwan Tea No. 18 (Ruby), Taiwan Native Wild Mountain Tea, and Taiwan Tea No. 21. Among them, Taiwan Tea No. 18 is Ruby. Rankings range from Special Grand Prize, First Prize, Gold Prize, to Quality Prize. If you really want to make a statement, go for the Special Grand Prize, though it runs around NT$100,000 per 600 g, so your wallet needs to be ready.
For Impressive Gifting Part 2: If competition tea is out of your budget, go for the popular influencer-favored Ruby Black Tea brands tailored for tourists. While the quality isn’t necessarily top-tier, their packaging is professionally designed. At 20–40 g per tin, they look absolutely premium and make a great gift.
For Those Who Prefer Sweet and Smooth Tea Liquor: Spring tea has a high level of sweetness. Although Ruby’s signature variety aroma and cinnamon notes are less prominent, spring tea is smooth and gentle—unlike summer tea, which can easily turn bitter and astringent—making it a great choice for anyone who prefers a mild taste.
Early Summer Tea (June to Early July): This is the most popular season for Ruby tea lovers, widely recognized in the market, and considered by our tea master to be the month when top-tier Ruby Black Tea is most likely to appear. June and July Ruby Black Tea features a rich flavor, robust variety aroma, and appropriate astringency. Plus, if you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon “premium honey-scented Ruby Black Tea” bitten by green leaf hoppers.
Mid-July to August Summer Tea: This is the season for the boldest Ruby tea, boasting an extremely robust flavor and fantastic variety aroma, along with exceptional astringency. Many tea factories love using tea harvested during this time for tea competitions. Perfect for seasoned Ruby tea lovers or anyone who enjoys a bold flavor profile.
Aged Ruby Black Tea: Don’t write off Ruby Black Tea from previous seasons. In fact, as long as the tea quality is high and the craftsmanship is solid, black tea actually improves after aging for half a year to a year. Many tea enthusiasts love collecting Ruby harvested from mid-July to August, letting it age for a few years before drinking. The overly strong astringency and bitterness will mellow into mint and cinnamon notes.
The Honest Tea Merchant's Guide: How to Choose Top-Tier Ruby Black Tea
If you plan to drink it fresh during the current season, June to early July is your best bet. If you want to age it for a year before drinking, tea from June to August will work nicely. If you’re looking for a unique flavor experience, ask if they have any “honey-scented Ruby Black Tea” available—it’s a rare and precious find, and the taste is simply marvelous!