Got this little packet of Formosa Ruby 18 (July 28) as part of the “Week of July 27” sample box from Adagio. I’m on the second steep, and have not detected any of the flavors described by the company’s notes. (By the way—those notes are verbatim the ones from Masters Teas—at least they are the same ones posted on the Formosa Ruby 18 from Masters Teas. Which came first? As hard to know as the chicken/egg question, in my book.)
I find it a smooth, readily drinkable black tea. Now I detect a mere hint of smokiness, but that’s all. The finish seemed tannic, dry when drinking from the first steep, but the finish now, after the second steep is gentler, not as dry. Brisk on the first steep, mellow on the second.
I find this quite an enjoyable cup, and appreciate the chance to have tried it. I recommend it for a tea that would be a good cup, day in, day out.
Flavors: Tannic, Tea, Warm
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Masters Teas is also Adagio, it’s just a separate site where they sell their higher end single origin teas.
I tried to order Adagio’s Formosa Ruby 18 Black when I placed my first order with them, only to have it removed as ‘sold out’ and with a message to try again in September. I suppose I’ll need to assemble another order now before it sells out again!
Thank you, Cameron, for having cleared up the mystery of why the tasting notes provided by Adagio were the same as the ones from Masters. And the sample size will be returning in September, but if one’s willing to pop for an ounce & a half size, it’s available now at $29 (April, 2024 harvest). With that price, I’m guessing the sample size in September would be the same tiny size as the one I received: a couple teaspoons? Perhaps I should have measured it out, but I just dumped the packet into my small teapot. I’ll say this—they were nicely sized leaf sections, much larger than those normally found in teabags. After steeping they reminded me a bit of bats’ wings!
I confirm the “sample” packet size is 11 grams (0.4 oz.)
Masters Teas is also Adagio, it’s just a separate site where they sell their higher end single origin teas.
I tried to order Adagio’s Formosa Ruby 18 Black when I placed my first order with them, only to have it removed as ‘sold out’ and with a message to try again in September. I suppose I’ll need to assemble another order now before it sells out again!
Thank you, Cameron, for having cleared up the mystery of why the tasting notes provided by Adagio were the same as the ones from Masters. And the sample size will be returning in September, but if one’s willing to pop for an ounce & a half size, it’s available now at $29 (April, 2024 harvest). With that price, I’m guessing the sample size in September would be the same tiny size as the one I received: a couple teaspoons? Perhaps I should have measured it out, but I just dumped the packet into my small teapot. I’ll say this—they were nicely sized leaf sections, much larger than those normally found in teabags. After steeping they reminded me a bit of bats’ wings!
I confirm the “sample” packet size is 11 grams (0.4 oz.)