Ruby #18

Ruby #18 is a black tea from Taiwan, named after the tea garden from which the leaves are picked. This very special tea is a hybrid of the Camellia Sinensis Assamica from India and the wild Taiwanese variety growing near Sun Moon Lake. A chameleon of flavor, sometimes chocolatey, spicey, or sweet and caramely. It is always complex and wonderful. (I think it has a lovely honey aftertaste, myself.) Because it is so special, the price is $10/2 oz but worth every penny.

Surrounded by green mountains, Sun Moon Lake is the pearl of Central Taiwan.　Sun Moon Lake is the largest natural lake in Taiwan.　The Eastern part of the lake is round like the sun, while the Western part is shaped like a crescent moon - hence the name "Sun Moon Lake".

In the middle of the lake (between the "sun" and the "moon") is an island which has long been a sacred place for the Shao people. This island (Lalu) is off-limits to visitors. Only the Shao people can go there to worship their ancestors. When looking up information about this area I found lots of beautiful photographs and descriptions of trails that visitors may walk. What a lovely place to visit! (some day, some day)