I had this for the third time a couple of days ago. The first two times I drank it, I made it western, and last time gong fu.
I delayed writing a note because it is nothing like my first Ruby 18 or any others I have had since. My first was from A Southern Season. It was supposed to be black tea, but when I steeped it, it was pale yellow. I had even forgotten to time it! I was sure I had done something wrong, as these were my early tea drinking days. In spite of oversteeping, it was marvelous. I kept it on hand as long as they were open and had it in stock.
With excitement I ordered this one (rather expensive as good Ruby 18 can be) using mostly my reward points, and… it is good, but it is not remotely like the one from A Southern Season. It looks like black tea, tastes like black tea. It is good, but it isn’t what I was expecting.
Since I was a little put out at the difference between the old and new Western, I made it gong fu last time and it steeped more times than any regular black tea I have done, not counting ripe puerh. It was good with our dessert, so I will accept it for its positive points and not dwell on the fact that it is not what I expected.
