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Black tea · Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan Ruby 18

紅玉, Hong Yu

7.8/10 editor's score

A Taiwanese black tea from the cultivar TTES No. 18, grown around Sun Moon Lake. Famous for natural cinnamon and mint notes.

CultivarSpiceTaiwan
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Taiwan Ruby 18, top-down

What you need

2.5 g leafTaiwan Ruby 18
250 ml water90°C
Steep 3:002 steeps
LiquorBright ruby red
Served inYixing clay teapot

At a glance

A Taiwanese black tea from the cultivar TTES No. 18, grown around Sun Moon Lake.

CaffeineMedium~35 to 55 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit8.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestSummer to autumnMain picking for Ruby 18.
Pairs withApple pie, Spiced cake, Roast porkLess good with delicate fish
Grown atAround Sun Moon Lake, which lies at 748 mSun Moon Lake, Nantou
Served inYixing clay teapotSmall clay pot, tiny cups

About Taiwan Ruby 18

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe Ruby 18 as having natural cinnamon and mint notes over malt, with a bright red cup 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

Sun Moon LakeNantouTAIWAN
Region
Yuchi, around Sun Moon Lake, Nantou 1
Cultivar
TTES No. 18, developed in the 1990s 1
Parents
Assamica crossed with native Taiwanese tea 1
Station
Taiwan Tea Research and Experiment Station 1

More from Sun Moon Lake and Taiwan.

History and culture

In the 1920s, plantations of Indian tea varieties were developed in Yuchi Township, Nantou, and a black tea research institute opened there in 1926 1.

TTES No. 18 was developed by the Taiwan Tea Research and Experiment Station during the 1990s 1.

Editor's score

7.8/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 8.5Origin & heritage: 7.0Availability: 7.0Value: 7.5Beginner-friendliness: 8.5Versatility: 8.0Flavour 8.5Heritage 7.0Availability 7.0Value 7.5Beginners 8.5Versatility 8.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Taiwan Ruby 18~35 to 55 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Black teas around Sun Moon Lake are picked through the warm months. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

TTES No. 18, a hybrid of Camellia sinensis var. assamica and a native Taiwanese variety (forma formosensis) 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

One bud and two or three leaves.

02Withering

Indoors.

03Rolling

Twisting.

04Oxidation

Full.

05Drying

Fired.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafLong, dark, twisted leaf.
LiquorBright ruby red.
After steeping
Wet leafDark copper.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Apple pie
  • Spiced cake
  • Roast pork

Best avoided

  • Delicate fish

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Sold by cultivar and region rather than leaf grade.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Check the cultivar is No. 18.
  2. Look for Sun Moon Lake or Yuchi.
FAQ
Is the cinnamon added?

No. It is a natural note of the cultivar.

Find it inBlack teasTeas from TaiwanSun Moon LakeCultivarSpiceTaiwan

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Taiwanese tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_tea
  2. Wikipedia, "Sun Moon Lake". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Moon_Lake
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.