mrawlins2

Sun Moon Lake Black Tea from Foruntay Tea (ChineseTea-Shop.com)

mrawlins2 drank Sun Moon Lake Black Tea by Foruntay Tea (ChineseTea-Shop.com)

This is definitely a very interesting and different tea. The dry leaves are long, dark and twisted with scents of cocoa and dark fruit.

1st infusion – 4 min boiling water
The tea is a medium, translucent brown and the tea leaves are not yet unfurled. The taste is smooth and naturally very sweet with hints of raisins and figs. There is very little to no bitterness or astringency.

There are not many teas that make me say “wow”, but this is one of them. Delicious and the natural sweetness is addictive.

2nd infusion – 5+ minutes boiling water
Unfortunately, I lost track of time on this infusion. Thankfully, this tea is quite forgiving. The scent is more cocoa this time around and less fruit which carries through to the taste. There is a slight roasty flavor – all around a really great, easy drinking tea.

The beautiful leaves are still not quite unfurled so I may have another steep or two (either tonight or tomorrow). Really great stuff, this is.

I only used about half the sample, so I’m looking forward to a round of gongfu brewing soon!

2011-06-23 21:28:29 -0400

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Comments

ashmanra 2011-06-23 22:59:47 -0400

I understand that this is supposed. To be the same tea as Ruby 18 and Black Ruby. If so, this is one of my favorites and is a most unusual tea. It is almost impossible for it to get bitter, and it tastes great steep after steep. I am planning to get some from Shui Tea since theirs was so much better than Southern Season’s.

mrawlins2 2011-06-24 01:54:41 -0400

It was definitely one of the most unusual and interesting teas that I’ve had in awhile.

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Bio

I am a former coffee drinker turned tea lover.

Black tea is probably my favorite type of tea, but I rather enjoy most types… I’m even developing a taste for pu-erh.

Rating Scale:
0-10: This tea is either flavorless or just plain undrinkable. I will avoid these teas in the future.

11-20: I was only able to make it through a few sips before pouring the tea out.

21-30: I may have been able to make it through the first cup but the thought of having another has me cringing.

31-40: Teas in this range are not horrible, but nothing I would seek out in the future.

41-60: Would drink if offered, but would not purchase for myself.

61-70: Okay, nothing special

71-80: Enjoyable, but I have to be in the mood for these. Probably would purchase if I found a really great price.

81-90: Pretty good tea, will probably be one of my favorites.

91-95: These teas are really excellent. I wouldn’t necessarily run out and buy more of these (just because there are so many teas out there that I haven’t tried), but I would miss this tea.

96-99: Terrific, very impressive.

100: This special rating is reserved for teas that are absolutely perfect in my opinion. I will only give out a rating of 100 to one tea per category (Earl Grey, unflavored black, dessert tea, Irish Breakfast, etc). These are teas that I really want to have around.

Perfect Teas so Far:

Earl Grey: Saint Isaac’s Blend (Russian Earl Grey) from Upton

Dessert Tea: Marco Polo from Mariage Freres

Unflavored Black: Emperor’s Red from Premium Steap