Communitea x Wang Family Tea – 日月潭紅茶 (Rì Yuè Tán Hóng Yù Hóng Chá)
Red Jade (紅玉) is one of Taiwan’s most celebrated black tea cultivars. Created by Taiwan’s Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES) over five decades, Taicha No. 18 is a hybrid of a large-leaf Burmese variety and a wild Taiwanese mountain tea. This cultivar produces a uniquely bold and cooling profile, unlike any other black tea in the world.
Grown at 800 meters in the lush hills surrounding Sun Moon Lake, our spring harvest Hongyu is hand-picked and twisted into dark, glossy strips. When steeped, it yields a glowing red liquor with complex layers of mint, cinnamon, fruit sweetness, and wood spice.
This tea is part of our Communitea x Wang Family Tea series, vacuum-sealed at source and co-labeled to honor both origin, craft, and the work of growing and connecting communities. Every purchase helps grow educational and intercultural initiatives through Storied Journeys, Village Teacher, and the Communitea Project.
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Shipping Information
Use this text to answer questions in as much detail as possible for your customers.
Customer Support
Use this text to answer questions in as much detail as possible for your customers.
FAQ’s
Use this text to answer questions in as much detail as possible for your customers.
Contact Us
Use this text to answer questions in as much detail as possible for your customers.
Tea Info
Tea Origin
Tea Name: 日月潭紅茶 (Rì Yuè Tán Hóng Chá) English Name: Sun Moon Lake Black Tea (Red Jade) Cultivar: Taicha No. 18 – Hóngyù (台茶18號 – 紅玉) Region: Yúchí Township, Nantou County, Taiwan Elevation: 800m Oxidation: Full (100%) Roast: Sun-withered / Light Heat Processing Caffeine: High Season: Spring 2025 Harvest Style: Hand-picked Flavor Profile: Mint, cinnamon bark, stewed fruit, exotic wood Best For: Black Tea Connoisseurs, Coffee Crossovers, Cold Brew Enthusiasts, Anyone ;)
Gongfu Brewing Method
Teaware: Gaiwan, Clay (pot seasoning and great heat retention, not as good for color appreciation), porcelain (color appreciation and good retention), or glass teapot (color appreciate but loses heat quickly)
Leaf Amount: 2.5g | 1 tsp per 250 ml (8 oz) Water Temp: 90–95°C | 194–203°F Steep Time: 2.5–3.5 min Re-steep: 1-2 additional steeps
Iced/Cold Brew Method
Teaware: Glass and silicon infuser bottle
Leaf Amount:7g per 500 ml (17 oz) Time:6–10 hours refrigerated
Leaf, Liquor, & Tasting Notes
Dry Leaf: Tightly twisted into dark, slender strips with a black base and subtle auburn sheen. The dry aroma is distinctly minty, with undercurrents of woodsiness and soft spice.
Liquor: Crystal-clear and warm dark red — a color that truly earns the name “Red Jade.”
First Round: Aromatic and bright. Mint dominates both the nose and palate, accompanied by a gentle warmth. Beneath the mint, a soft note of cinnamon begins to emerge.
Second Round: The mint and cinnamon deepen in complexity. A light sugary sweetness rises, evoking ripe fruit and adding roundness to the cup.
Third Round: The tea reaches its peak expression. Mint, cinnamon, and fruit-sugar flavors crescendo together, joined by a refined note of exotic wood that lingers long after the sip.
Tea Appreciation
Leaf Characteristics
Before Steep
After Steep
Pair Your Ware
Teaware that brings out the fullest potential of the tea and meets you where you are at in your tea journey - on the go, casual drinker, iced enthusiast, aspiring connouisseur.
Communitea is committed to not white labeling. We are apart of each others stories. The teas our partners provide us with are the product of their hard work and commitment to community. We commit to fair pricing that respects their margins and also allows us to provide for our workers and programs in the US to continue the work.
The Wang Family
The Wang Family (brother and sister owners Josh and Ivy) have been farming and producing tea for four generations in Taiwan. They take pride in their traditional and sustainable farming practices that have been passed down through the generations; they believe in letting nature do its work, rather than relying on chemicals or other modern farming techniques.
By working alongside nature, they ensure that the unique characteristics and flavors of Taiwan's beautiful terroir are preserved in each cup of tea.
Another important aspect of their tea production is their use of traditional charcoal roasting. Unlike most modern tea roasters that use electricity or gas, they use high-quality longan wood charcoal sourced from a local renewable forest. The charcoal tea roasting process is a delicate task that requires skilled hands, patience, and a keen sense for the fire.
Partnership with Communitea
Our partnership with Wang Family Tea is built on shared roots—growing tea and growing community. As they cultivate sustainable, generational farming and tea education in Taiwan, we cultivate education, opportunity, and connection between our communities and theirs. Together, we create pathways for our communities to learn with and from one another through cross-cultural exchanges and community-based education—funded directly through every cup of Communitea.
Tea Origin
Supporter Benefits
Become a monthly supporter on our partner page and get supporter prices, access to events and articles on our Substack and Discord, and access to limited edition offerings.
Each tea supports the mission of growing, connecting, and serving communities.
Shipping Options
Get free shipping on orders of $65 or more on tea and teaware from Communitea. CommuniteaWare (clothing, mugs, etc.) are print on demand and shipped separately. See product details for shipping options and rates.
Login. Become a Member. Benefit.
Get rewards and credit on purchases and access to live tastings, Substack articles, and our Discord!
Secure payment
Your payment information is processed securely
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
