Tea Guides

Our Ruby Black Tea is the boldest of our black teas: a full-bodied, richly flavoured tea from Nepal's Ilam district with dark cherry and cocoa notes. It's just as good on its own as it is at the heart of a proper masala chai. If you've been making chai with supermarket tea bags, this will show you what you've been missing.

What Is Ruby Black Tea?

Ruby Black Tea is a fully oxidized black tea from Nepal's Ilam district, processed to develop deep, dark flavours and a rich, full-bodied cup. It's named for the colour of the brewed tea, a warm, deep ruby red that hints at the flavour underneath.

Our Gold Black Tea and Muscatel are best drunk plain, while Ruby Black Tea is made to be versatile. Its body and depth stand up to milk and spice without losing character. Think of a wine that's good on its own and also with food: adaptable, satisfying, and well made.

Flavour Profile

Dark cherry on the nose, cocoa and malt on the palate, and a warm, slightly sweet finish. It's fuller and more robust than Gold Black Tea, with more weight in the cup. For a tea this bold it has very little astringency, thanks to high-altitude growing: cooler temperatures and slower leaf growth naturally keep tannins down.

On its own, it's warming, complex, and satisfying. With milk, the cherry and cocoa notes still come through clearly. With spices, it stands up to cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper in a way lighter black teas can't.

Who Is Ruby Black Tea For?

• Chai drinkers. Its body and character make it the best chai base we sell.
• Lovers of full-bodied tea who find lighter black teas too subtle in the morning.
• Coffee drinkers trying tea. Its dark, robust character bridges the gap between coffee and tea.
• Milk tea drinkers. It holds up to milk better than most single-origin teas of this quality.

How to Brew Ruby Black Tea

Standard cup: 1 teaspoon (2 to 3g) per 250ml of freshly boiled water (100°C), steeped for 3 to 4 minutes. That's a little longer than Gold Black Tea, because its fuller character benefits from the extra time.

With milk: Brew at the stronger end (4 minutes), then add milk. The dark cherry and cocoa notes come through clearly even with plenty of milk.

Masala chai: Add 1.5 teaspoons of Ruby Black Tea to 300ml of milk, with 3 crushed cardamom pods, a 1cm piece of fresh ginger (sliced), a cinnamon stick, and a pinch of black pepper. Simmer on low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, then strain and sweeten to taste. This is the chai the tea was made for.

Re-steeping: Ruby Black Tea gives a good second infusion, slightly lighter but still satisfying.

Ruby Black Tea vs. Our Other Black Teas

• Ruby Black Tea: full-bodied, dark cherry and cocoa. Best for chai, milk tea, and strong morning cups.
• Gold Black Tea: smooth, malty, honey-mango. The everyday all-rounder.
• Muscatel Black Tea: honey, grape, spice. The most complex, and best plain.
• Special Black Tea: from Taplejung at 6,000ft. Rare and very smooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ruby Black Tea good for making chai?

Yes, it's the best chai base we sell. Its full body and dark cherry and cocoa character stand up to milk and spice in a way lighter black teas don't. Follow the masala chai recipe above for the best results.

How does it compare to Assam tea for chai?

Assam is the traditional chai base: malty, bold, and made for milk. Ruby Black Tea has a similar body and works just as well with milk, but with more complexity. Its cherry and cocoa notes add something Assam's plainer malt doesn't have.

Can I drink Ruby Black Tea without milk?

Yes, it's satisfying plain, and its dark cherry and malt character is lovely without milk. It's also excellent with milk, so it's more versatile than teas that only work one way.

Where is Ruby Black Tea grown?

In Nepal's Ilam district, in the eastern Himalayan foothills. It's the same mountain range as Darjeeling, at a similar altitude, with the same growing conditions that give Nepal its most flavourful teas.

Does Nepal Hills Tea ship to Canada?

Yes, all orders ship Canada-wide from Peterborough, Ontario. Shipping is free on orders over $60 CAD, and most provinces get their orders within 3 to 7 business days.

The Bottom Line

Ruby Black Tea is the tea many chai drinkers have been looking for without knowing it. It's a full-bodied, naturally flavourful black tea from the Himalaya that's made for milk and spice and still satisfying plain. If your morning cup needs more depth and character, try this one.

Buy Ruby Black Tea or explore all 10 Nepal Hills teas with the Tea Sampler Kit.