Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Cameron Tea
Tea Description:
Region: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
Type: Black Tea
Harvest Time: Winter 2013
Oxidation level: Fully oxidised
Taste: Natural flavour of cinnamon with a slight hint of mint.
When to drink: Throughout the day
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Another gorgeous black tea leaf from Cameron Teas! When I opened the package of this Sun Moon Lake Ruby Tea, what I found were leaves that looked exactly like the photo above – beautiful, chocolate brown to black tea leaves, long with wiry curls.
The aroma of the leaves reminds me of leather with very subtle spice notes. Once the leaves are brewed, the spice notes emerge. The tea smells of warm spice and leather and wood. It’s a very masculine fragrance.
The last tea that I sampled from Cameron Teas was a Sun Moon Lake Assam tea, so as I was brewing this tea, I found myself wondering how different this would taste from that Assam.
There are some similarities to that memorable tea: most specifically, notes of caramel, cocoa and malt with some earthy notes. Both of these teas share these characteristics, but they definitely DO taste different. I think that the Assam has more malt to the cup and more of that caramel-y undertone, while this tea has some distinct warm spice notes of cinnamon – just as the description above suggests – as well as a subtle yet crisp, mint-like finish and aftertaste.
This tea has less of the fruity notes and more of a rich cacao and spice flavor than the Assam. They are distinct differences between the two, and I would find it a difficult undertaking to recommend one over the other because I enjoyed both and rather than recommend one over the other, I’d simply say that you should also try both and determine which you like best!
Both teas are rich and satisfying, but if I were to choose one for that all important first cup of the day, I think I’d reach for this one. The Assam, while delicious and rich in it’s own way, it has more of an “afternoon tea” type of flavor to me with it’s fruit notes, while this one has the kind of flavor that I think would stand up nicely to a splash of milk and a drizzle of honey if you care to add it to your morning cuppa.
This tea seems more robust to me, which almost seems odd for me to say and to read as I type it … because I generally consider Assam to be a bold, robust sort of tea. But when it comes to these Sun Moon Lake varieties, I think that this Ruby has a slightly “heftier” flavor and texture than the Assam. That isn’t to say that I’d recommend this one over the Assam … only that this one offered more of a “breakfast tea” experience to me while the Assam offered me an “afternoon tea” experience.
This is a really excellent Sun Moon Lake tea. I’m very impressed with these teas that I’ve been trying from Cameron Tea!
Taiwan Sun Moon Lake Assam Black Tea (Competition Grade) from Cameron Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Cameron Tea
Tea Description:
Sun Moon Lake is located at altitude of 700m, surrounded with mountains and lakes with remarkable environment and typical climate. Heavy moist and stable yearly average temperature make the tea trees grow thick and rich tea leaves which produce carmine and perfectly clear liquor.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I didn’t know what to expect from this Sun Moon Lake Assam Tea from Cameron Tea, to be honest with you! I find Sun Moon Lake black teas and Assam Teas to be quite different, so, it seemed unusual to have a Sun Moon Lake Assam Tea, and I found myself wondering what made this an Assam if it was grown in Taiwan rather than India. Is it the Assamica variety of the Camellia Sinensis plant?
The leaves are absolutely beautiful! Each long, curly leaf looks like a work of art! Gorgeous! They have a sweet smell to them: earthy with hints of sweet fruit. The brewed tea has a softer aroma.
Wow! This tastes amazing. It … tastes mostly like a Sun Moon Lake black tea: it’s sweet and has a lighter body than most Assam teas that I’ve encountered.
But I can taste notes that are very Assam-like too. There is a nice malty note to this, and this compliments the sweetness of the Sun Moon Lake qualities of this tea. Notes of a honeyed caramel and hints of cacao contrast with notes of earth and leather. There is a slightly dry astringency to this, although it is not an abrupt astringency – it gently arrives on the palate – and it is a rather soft astringency as compared to what you might typically experience with an Assam tea.
This is such a warm and cozy cuppa. Generally, when I think of “Assam” I think of a bracing tea that gives you that kick start in the morning. Something that takes to the addition of milk and honey well, if you care to add it, and something that has a rich, thick flavor.
This, on the other hand, is not quite as bracing or bold as a typical Assam. I wouldn’t add milk and honey to this cup, because I would fear that it might overwhelm the beautiful Sun Moon Lake notes of the tea. I mean, perhaps it won’t, but, why take the chance on such a beautiful looking (and tasting!) liquid? It is smoother and not quite as strong as an Assam. Instead, this is the kind of “Assam” you’ll enjoy curling up to on a rainy spring afternoon. (We’ve had a few of those lately!)
I really love this tea. If you’re looking for something more Assam-ish, this might not be the right choice for you, but if you love a delicious Sun Moon Lake black tea and want something just a little different…
Imagine the love child between Sun Moon Lake and Assam … this child looks so much of the Sun Moon Lake but has the Assam’s eyes. Yeah … I’ve been watching Harry Potter again.
Just try it! You won’t be disappointed! This one is a WIN!
Sun Moon Lake Black Tea from Nuvola Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Nuvola Tea
Tea Description:
Sun Moon Lake Black Tea is a bright reddish-coloured tea with a fresh fruity and caramel scent. It produces a balanced, wholesome cup with an exquisite mellowness that warms your body and enhances blood circulation.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Sun Moon Lake Black Tea from Nuvola Tea is absolutely stunning! A really exquisite cup of tea!
The dark, long, wirey leaves produce a lovely, coppery colored liquid that smells sweet and fruity, reminding me a bit of fresh, juicy plums. The taste is lovely with notes of sweet caramel and a hint of chocolate. I taste a slight malty undertone, it’s very subtle but its there. There is a bright fruit note that tastes like a cross between citrus and and plum. The slight astringency toward the tail enhances the citrus-like tones.
The citrus notes also provide an interesting crispness to the cup, and even though the crispness is invigorating, I find this cup to be more on the mellow side rather than the robust side. Sure, it’s full of flavor, but this isn’t something I’d want to drink in the morning when I need that burst of energy. Instead, this is a tea to be enjoyed … drink it slowly during a lazy afternoon when you want to contemplate the beauty of an amazing tea like this one.
And be sure to infuse these tea leaves a second (and possibly a third time!) … it is well worth the effort. I found the second infusion to be my favorite!
Another outstanding tea from Nuvola Tea!
2011 Sun Moon Lake Red Tea from The Essence of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Essence of Tea
Tea Description:
This exquisite hongcha comes from Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan where it is grown on old trees (>100 years old). The leaves are hand picked. The quantities of this are very limited in each production.
The flavour is excellent with enough character to prevent it falling into that bland sweetness often found in hongcha.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have tried maybe a handful of the “Sun Moon Lake” type black teas and each time I try them, the more impressed I am by this variety. The flavor is sweet with notes of chocolate and rich, dried fruit notes (I taste notes of sugary dates and raisin). There are lovely notes of malt and something that’s been freshly baked – like a good, crusty loaf of bread. Something with a nice, chewy crust with it’s hints of caramelized taste.
This tea has a very pleasing, full-bodied taste and texture. It has a fair amount of astringency toward the tail, but no bitterness to speak of. There is a savory note that is most noticeable toward the end of the sip. This savoriness develops as I sip, but I don’t know that I would refer to it as bitter. It isn’t sweet, it is more like a sour note, like the hint of sour you taste when you bite into a fresh, juicy plum. It is mostly sweet, but there is just a hint of sourness in there to keep it interesting. That is what I taste here.
Overall, the taste is very smooth and rich. It is one of those teas that would please even the most discriminating tea connoisseur. It’s stunning! Then again, I’ve yet to find a tea from this company that I’ve not enjoyed – they’ve all been top notch!
Sun Moon Lake Black Tea from Fong Mong Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Fong Mong Tea on eBay
Tea Description:
Sun Moon Lake black tea can be declared “Red Treasure” in central Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County is surrounded with mountains and lakes with remarkable environment and typical climate. Heavy moist and stable yearly average temperature make the tea trees grow thick and rich tea leaves which produce carmine and perfectly clear liquor. Its unique sweet aroma and strong mint taste make it truly unforgettable. It is also the best ingredient to make “bubble tea” (the most famous Taiwanese tea drink on earth).
Taster’s Review:
I have really enjoyed the few Sun Moon Lake black teas I’ve tried thus far, and this is certainly one of the nicest I’ve encountered.
I love the aroma! It is so warm and comforting, that I like to hold the cup up to my lips and just inhale the fragrance. It smells sweet, rich, and has notes of fruit as well as some bold earthy tones and hints of woody scents in the background.
The flavor is so unique – quite unlike other black teas I’ve encountered. It has a fruity profile that is sweet and possesses hints of sour as well. It is bold and invigorating while at the same time maintaining a soothing sort of quality.
The earthiness here is not so much earth or peat as it is like the earthiness you might experience from a mushroom – like a Portabello. Sort of meaty like that. There are woodsy type notes to this as well, distant wood notes, maybe even a hint of smoke.
It has a fair amount of astringency, but it isn’t bitter. Then again, that could be attributed to my steeping – I steeped this at 200°F for 2 1/2 minutes. I suspect I could have achieved a very interesting cup using my gaiwan, but, I’m quite happy with the cup I brewed using my Breville One-Touch: it is rich, delicious and possesses so many interesting nuances, that I find myself sipping just to see what I might discover next. And that is one of the best qualities any tea can have!