Teas / red / Sun Moon Lake Hong Yu (Ruby

Sun Moon Lake Hong Yu (Ruby
🇹🇼 Taiwan

Sun Moon Lake Hong Yu (Ruby

Rì Yuè Tán Hóng Yù · 日月潭红玉 (日月潭紅玉)

gongfu

Sun Moon Lake Hong Yu ("Ruby #18") is a red tea from Yuchi Township on the shores of Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, Taiwan, made from the TRES Hong Yu cultivar (Tai Cha No. 18). The cultivar is a deliberate cross between a Burmese Camellia sinensis var. assamica strain (B-729) and a wild Taiwanese C. sinensis (B-607), developed by the Tea Research Extension Station to revive Taiwan's red-tea industry. The result is a clear ruby liquor with natural mint and cinnamon notes — a flavour profile not found in any mainland Chinese red tea.

Quick facts

Region
Yuchi (Sun Moon Lake)
Harvest year
2025
Harvest season
summer
Cultivars
Hong Yu (Tai Cha

Brewing

Leaf
3.5 g / 100 ml
Water
90°C
Rinse
no
Gongfu steeps (s)
20, 30, 45, 60, 90
Western (min)
3.0

A red tea that's distinctly cooling — the hybrid's mint/cinnamon top note is unique to Hong Yu and not found in mainland reds. Don't oversteep; the assamica heritage will turn it astringent fast.

Calculate leaf weight for this tea

Tasting notes

Aroma
mint, cinnamon, light camphor, ripe stone fruit
Flavor
sweet, mint, light cinnamon, smooth
Mouthfeel
light, fresh
Finish
cooling, long

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