After not writing about tea for a bit over a week, it was time to get back into things with a Sun Moon Lake Ruby. It’s a cold day, but the sun is out. This meant I wanted to drink a warming and refreshing tea. Tee Kontor Kiel sent me some samples a while ago and the Sun Moon Lake Ruby seemed perfect for the job.
Sun Moon Lake Ruby
This is a famous tea from around Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan. It’s famous for its distinct and characteristic menthol flavour. The name comes from the fact that the colour of the liquor is usually ruby red.
Don’t know where to buy tea online? I made a page on the website with over 300 online shops and I keep updating it regularly. You can check it over here.
This tea is made using the Hong Yu cultivar. These leaves are only picked once a year in July. It’s pretty nice that the leaves are only picked once a year, which means that they have a full year to gather nutrients.
Tea Tasting
- Water 95°C
- 4g for a 80ml Qing dynasty zisha teapot
The colour of the leaves is really dark. I see twisted and medium-sized leaves. It has a distinct menthol aroma, but there is also a sweet undertone and a maltiness.
Infusion 1 (15 sec): I’m definitely getting some menthol notes, but it’s not the only thing I’m getting. There is a slight maltiness as well. The aftertaste is pleasant and has traces of menthol.
Infusion 2 (20 sec): this one is less malty and the menthol is a tiny bit sweeter as I’m getting some hints of honey. It coats my mouth and flows down my throat quite easily. It feels just right. The aftertaste is intense and long-lasting.
Infusion 3 (25 sec): soft and pleasant menthol flavours. It’s really warming and perfect for a day like today. The aftertaste is a bit sharper than the previous infusions.
Infusion 4 (30 sec): menthol is still the dominant flavour. It’s also getting a tiny bit astringent, but not too much. It’s only a chalky mouthfeel that I’m experiencing. Still a pleasant experience.
Infusion 5 (35 sec): more of the same, so it’s still enjoyable.
Infusion 6 ( 40 sec): the menthol notes are still prominent and it’s also getting fresher and sharper.
Conclusion
I normally don’t go for Sun Moon Lake Ruby teas because the menthol can be too dominant. I don’t really like it when one particular flavour mutes all the other ones.
This was definitely not the case in this one. There was menthol, but the first infusions also had sweet and malty notes. I was really warmed up after this session.
If you’re like me and you don’t really go for a Sun Moon Lake Ruby, this one is worth trying. If you do like this tea, you should definitely try it because this is the best one I have tried so far.
If you’re interested in this tea, you can buy it over here.
