Sandakphu Tea Estate -Nepal Ruby Black

Ruby Black is a Nepali tea specific to the Sandakphu Estate located in the Ilam Tea District of Nepal. The plantation is named after the Sandakphu Peak. The estate sits on the eastern boarder of India right next to the Darjeeling area of Northern India. Ruby Black is uniquely processed by hand in the Jasbirey Village by women in their homes.

This tea has quickly become one of my favorite teas when I am looking for a bit of comfort. I discovered this tea like I discover a lot of teas via Tea Source as a member of their amazing monthly subscription program. Each month they send you a new set of teas from any where the world. Trust me when I tell you the owner himself travels the world to find the best teas. I just happen to run into in him at the International Xiamen Tea Fair in Xiamen, China October 2016. He has an amazing palette and my dream job of exploring the world of tea while traveling the world.

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Tasting Notes

The dry Ruby Black leaves are a uniform dark brownish green and smell woody and roasted. The camera really picks up the green notes in the flat rolled leaves more than the naked eye can see.

The reddish-brown or copper colored liquor has a full body with mild astringency giving it a slight bitterness that quickly fades to the background as the sweetness comes forward. It has tasting flavors of honey, floral and black licorice.

The steeped leaves have a rich copper color like the liquor and smell like sweet wood.