[EN] A sample! I was very intrigued by a tea named after my favorite oolong, Wen Shan Bao Zhong, but as a black tea! I had to try it. The leaf is huge and wirey. The fragrance of the dry leaf had such a scent of added fruit flavor, that I thought there was flavor contamination from something else. But steeping up the tea, I don't think there was scent contamination. The brew is very light for a black tea -- it almost looks like a roasted oolong. The flavor is mostly like a Ruby 18 varietal (which is what the dry leaf looks like, now that I think about it, including that hint of scarlet in the leaf). But it's also fairly fruity, like plums, or maybe something even odder like passionfruit, and also a bit starchy, the second steep is actually very tangy. It's very clear in the lingering mouth flavor. Or a better word than "clear" might be vibrant, which the description mentions.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3 minutes after boiling // 4 min steep
I left the above note in a draft for a while, so here is a second steep session a while later: there is a sort of tangy fruit scent to the dry leaf and flavor of the first steep: tamarind + lychee or something. It reminds me how a Taiwanese Assam tastes like strawberries. Maybe these varieties with huge leaves usually taste like mostly fruit. The second steep is mostly tangy fruit again, then as it cools is like tomato soup with some starch. The third steep is a deep red and tastes like mostly like hot tomato soup! It's definitely a unique tea. Though it's a light brew which I normally wouldn't like, I DO like the complexity of flavors. And it certainly doesn't remind me of any oolong, Wen Shan Bao Zhong or otherwise. Now that I typed up all that, I read the note on the first steep session above and I'm amazed the flavors have seemed to evolve THIS much already in only a couple months. Second steep session: no thoughts of plum, passion fruit or Ruby 18! Tea is weird!
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for a full mug // 25 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 10 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #3 // just boiled // 4 min
von Rewa A. Cerezo
Oktober 2020
[EN] If u like Assam Beauty #8, then u will love the taste of this black tea. It's bold & sl sweet, a cross betwn an Assam & Keenum. Great w/ or w/o sugar. I don't use milk w/ any my teas, except w/chais for a whip cream treat during December.
von Keith K
November 2018
[EN] Very flavorful tea. A nice aroma.
[EN] This one really deserves the 5 star rating. I'm paranoid that one day it won't be available, so i buy extra when i order. The price initially almost scared me away, but i'm glad that i splurged and got it. Being addicted to this tea only proves how much of a tea lover you are. The taste is smooth, not bitter or tannic at all. more like a sweet (vanilla) tobacco aftertaste.
[EN] Tealyra's "Black Beauty" #8 is quite simply the most delicious tea I've ever had. Smooth, fragrant (even the dry tea is fragrant), and very drinkable! [NOTE: I do wonder if Tealyra has erred in this teas pedigree, though, as the hybrid they describe (of a pure-stock Assam and a native indigenous cultivar) more accurately describes what is known as Red Jade #18. According to Teapedia, the variety known as TTES #8 is an Assamica varietal from Jaipur, India.] Well... whatever it is, Tealyra is calling it Black Beauty and I love it!
[EN] Best tea I've ever had. Beautiful scent too.
[EN] Assam "Black Beauty" #8 now is on my "Specialty Tea" list since today.
Impressive whole dry long tea leaves opens into chocolate brown lasting leaves during the brewing time.
You should check out the aroma before you drink it. Pleasant sweet smell will bring the sunlight into your room/house.
Medium bodied honey coloured liqueur gives an awesome feeling from the start of the day. This tea has it desirable middle between hearty and sweet taste.
Caffeine will bring the energy into your body whiles aroma and taste going to shine the stimulative path into your day.
First brew have a little smoky finish in a cup, although second feels like you stored butterscotch in your cup.
This tea could be a good choice as a present for the loved ones and as a treat for ourselves.
von Chris Uk
Oktober 2015
[EN] An enjoyable tea that has a very distinctive taste of it's own.
The taste is difficult to describe, and completely new to me.
The leaves unfold to be enourmous, and seems to need a longish brew time to get the best flavour out of it.
It's very distinct taste make it good to try as a blend with another blander tea.
I'm ordering more!
von Jonathan
September 2014
[EN] Lazemaple said it right, this tea is amazing! If yo like Orange Pekoe, English Breakfast or anything rich you owe it to yourself to try this tea. It's not expensive, and tastes great.
von Lazemaple
Februar 2014
[EN] I have tried many of the black teas from the very expensive Japanese Makurazaki to Monks Blend, Orange Pekoe, Fujian and many others...THIS is my GoTo tea for special 'me times' a wee bit of serenity in a hectic day.
[EN] A second, larger order of this delicious tea was somewhat disappointing because it is a newer lot (Exp 12-2018) and far less fragrant than the previous lot (Exp 08-2018), and the flavor is less intense. I do still enjoy the brew, but with less enthusiasm. Tealyra doesn’t identify lot numbers or flushes/harvest dates, which means this kind of unexpected variation can occur, but I sure do miss that phenomenal first batch I bought! Maybe I’ll have better luck next spring. Still, I do recommend this as a delicious Assamic varietal from Taiwan!
von Heather Barrett
November 2022
[EN] Not a bad tea, it tastes alright. It's just not for me.
