At Mammoth Espresso, we’re big proponents that the same attention to detail and integrity of our coffee program should translate seamlessly to our tea program. We work diligently to bring you the best teas from renown growers the world over, and strive to create a remarkable experience for you in our shop. We love exploring the world of tea and want to share our enthusiasm with you.

One of our favorite teas right now is Ruby 18, a world-class Taiwanese black tea that’s unlike any black tea we’ve ever had. Ruby 18 boasts a complex, cinnamon-like aroma and has a strong depth of flavor with subtle fruit tones and plenty of sweetness. It finishes with a long, cooling mint quality.

Though it’s known as Ruby 18 through much of the west, this tea also goes by Hong Yu, or “Red Jade.” It was pioneered by the Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station (or, TRES) and can also be found as TRES 18. It was created by crossing a native Taiwan variety with a Burmese strain of Assam tea. Ruby 18 is now grown by some of the most esteemed tea farmers in Taiwan, notably in the Sun Moon Lake region of Nantou County.

Ruby 18 is one of the most interesting and wonderful teas we’ve found, and truly a unique experience for tea lovers.