Black Ruby

Is it terribly wrong that I dreamt about tea last night? Specifically, I dreamt about THIS tea! I was sipping the cup and a flavor of raisins exploded with each sip. Fast forward to this morning – based on the description this is the very same tea I buy called Ruby #18, a tea I love! I was interested in how it might differ coming from a different distributor.

It differs greatly! I LOVE this! The aroma is magnificent – buy it for that alone if you wish. It smells dark and richly of…raisins or dried fruits, or deep dark fig jam. But the flavor is complex and interesting. I would not add anything to this. The description mentions cinnamon and mint. I don’t get cinnamon or mint, but perhaps the mint they refer to is a high lingering note and mouth tingle that I attribute more to a slight astringency or lingering light smoke. Magnificent! I feel very wise and somber drinking this. I think I may call my children “Grasshopper” today.

Intense and weird. Good, though!

The leaves are extremely long, twisty and adhesive so this might be better prepared by weight. The dry fragrance is sweet and dusty with a touch of anise.

Prepared, the fragrance is caramel and vegetative. The taste is full and malty. There was a brief sour “snap” at the end of the first few sips, but that subsided as the cup cooled (or my taste buds were finally awake.)

Subsequent infusions of this were pretty good for a black tea. It picked up a mellow, biscuity character.

Some call this tea “Black Ruby,” others call it “Ruby Black.” Doesn’t matter. This tea by any name would taste as good. At least, that’s what my humans say: http://is.gd/eCXMY