Quick Answer
Taiwan Tea No. 18, better known as Ruby black tea (Hong Yu), is a black tea cultivar bred in Taiwan by crossing Burmese large-leaf Assam B-729 (mother) with Taiwan wild mountain tea B-607 (father). It was developed by the Yuchi Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station, with trials starting in 1946, and officially named in 1999. It is grown mainly in Yuchi Township, Nantou County (around Sun Moon Lake), and its signature flavor is cinnamon, mint and caramel-like sweetness, often called “Taiwan’s aroma”. Fully oxidized, it brews a bright red liquor that is great on its own or as fresh milk tea.
Where Taiwan Tea No. 18 Comes From
Summarized from the Chinese Wikipedia article on Taiwan Tea No. 18:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Parents | Mother: Burmese large-leaf Assam B-729; father: Taiwan wild mountain tea B-607 |
| Bred by | Yuchi Branch, Tea Research and Extension Station, Ministry of Agriculture (now the Tea and Beverage Research Station) |
| Breeding period | Started around 1946, officially named in 1999, about 50 years in total |
| Main growing area | Yuchi Township, Nantou County |
| Tea type | Fully oxidized black tea |
| Flavor | Cinnamon, mint and sweet caramel notes; some lines show a sugarcane aroma |
Taiwan wild mountain tea is a tea species native to Taiwan. Crossing it with Assam gives Ruby the body of a large-leaf black tea plus the distinctive aroma of the native species.
Ruby vs Other Black Teas
| Black tea | Origin | Flavor | Common bubble tea use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby (Taiwan Tea No. 18) | Yuchi, Nantou, Taiwan | Cinnamon and mint aroma, noticeably sweet | Straight tea, fresh milk tea, signature milk teas |
| Assam black tea | Large-leaf variety named after Assam, India | Strong, full-bodied | Classic bubble milk tea |
| Ceylon black tea | Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) | Varies by region | Lemon black tea, Thai milk tea |
| Earl Grey | Black tea scented with bergamot | Citrus aroma | Earl Grey milk tea, lattes |
How to Use Ruby Black Tea in Bubble Tea
- Straight Ruby tea: the aroma is the star; serve unsweetened or lightly sweetened.
- Ruby fresh milk tea: its cinnamon and mint notes pair beautifully with fresh milk, making it a popular premium item.
- Ruby milk tea: made with non-dairy creamer for a rich milk tea; for creamer vs milk, see What Is Non-Dairy Creamer?
- Boba Ruby fresh milk: add brown sugar pearls for a signature drink.
Follow the package recommendations for brewing temperature, time and leaf amount, then test in your store and write the result into your SOP.
Tang Sugar Ruby Black Tea Products
Tang Sugar supplies Ruby black tea leaves (600 g bags), Ruby black tea filter-free bags and Ruby black tea brewing bags, plus Assam, Ceylon and Earl Grey black teas. See our tea products or request samples.
Products in this article
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FAQ
What kind of tea is Taiwan Tea No. 18?
Taiwan Tea No. 18, also called Ruby, is a black tea cultivar bred by crossing Burmese large-leaf Assam B-729 with Taiwan wild mountain tea B-607. It was officially named in 1999 and is grown mainly in Yuchi Township, Nantou County.
What does Ruby black tea taste like?
Ruby has notes of cinnamon and mint with a caramel-like sweetness, often called “Taiwan’s aroma”, and brews a bright red liquor.
What is the difference between Ruby and Assam black tea?
Ruby is a Taiwanese cultivar bred from Assam and Taiwan wild mountain tea, with cinnamon and mint notes. Assam black tea is stronger and fuller and is commonly used for classic milk tea.
Is Ruby black tea good with milk?
Yes. Its aroma pairs very well with fresh milk; popular drinks include Ruby fresh milk tea and boba Ruby fresh milk.
Where is Taiwan Tea No. 18 grown?
Mainly around Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan.
How do you brew Ruby black tea?
Temperature, time and leaf amount depend on each product’s package instructions. Stores should brew a test batch following the package, adjust for sweetness, ice and milk, then write the final settings into their SOP. For tea brewing machines, see What Is a Tea Espresso Machine?
Where can I buy Ruby black tea wholesale?
Bubble tea shops can buy commercial packs from tea suppliers. Tang Sugar supplies Ruby black tea leaves (600 g bags), filter-free bags and brewing bags; see our tea products.
Further Reading
- What Is Four Seasons Spring Tea? Green Tea or Oolong?
- Who Invented Bubble Tea? Chun Shui Tang vs Hanlin Tea House
- Why Is Thai Milk Tea Orange?
- What Is Tieguanyin Tea?
- A History of Taiwanese Tea
Sources
- Wikipedia: Thai tea (Thai milk tea uses Ceylon black tea)
- Chinese Wikipedia: Taiwan Tea No. 18 (in Chinese)
- Tang Sugar product list (March 2026 edition)
