There are thousands of teas out there, and if you’re as fascinated by tea leaves as the enthusiasts, then learning about Ruan Zhi tea should be on your list of things to do. This delicious tea is a favorite among tea drinkers.
If you want to learn where this tea comes from, what kind of tea it is, how to brew it, and more about what makes it a great choice, we’ve got you covered.
Where is Ruan Zhi Tea From?
Ruan Zhi is also known as Ruanzhi tea, Qingxin, and No. 17. It’s a cultivator of tea plants that many farmers use to produce different oolong teas. Initially, this soft stem tea came from the Anxi County of the Fujian province in China. It’s a black tea, so there are similarities with other black teas from Asia.
This type of tea is used to make highland oolong teas like Dongding, Pouchong, and Dongfang Meiren. This specific type of tea is only produced in certain regions in Asia. You’ll find it in China’s Wuyishan and Anxi regions, several regions in Taiwan, Thailand, and the Bao Loc Mountain region of Vietnam.
What Does Ruan Zhi Tea Taste Like?
The tea will taste a little bit different depending on which region your tea is from. Overall, Ruan Zhi tea has a sweet and floral flavor. While you’re brewing it, the aroma resembles orchids or other similar flowers. Some compare it to berries and cherries, but the tea has a slight bitterness, especially if you steep it for too long.
How To Make Ruan Zhi Tea Taste Better
Most people believe that Ruan Zhi tea tastes pretty good on its own, but there is a slight bitterness to the flavor that can be off-putting for some. If you want to make your tea taste better, here are a few things you can add.
Honey
Honey is a natural sweetener that goes well in almost all types of tea. You can choose how much you want to add and stir it into the tea while it’s still hot, ensuring that it distributes evenly and each sip is delicious.
Milk
If you’re someone who prefers more of a tea latte situation, then choosing milk as an additive for your Ruan Zhi tea is a good idea. The best part is that you can select your type of milk. You can go with almond milk, coconut milk, whole milk, or whatever tastes best for you.
Be sure to experiment with different kinds of milk to see if you prefer one in your RUan Zhi tea more than another.
Sugar
If you want to sweeten your Ruan Zhi tea but aren’t a fan of honey, you can add sugar, Splenda, Stevia, or another sweetener of your choice. Adding sugar goes well with this tea and is especially tasty when you add it with milk too. Similar to honey, you’ll want to add sugar while the tea is still very hot to ensure the crystals dissolve and distribute evenly.
Lemon
Last but not least, if you want to add some additional flavor without sweetening your tea, you can add lemon. You can use lemon juice, lemon zest, or lemon slices as a garnish for this tea. You can also combine the lemon with sugar to cut the acidity a little bit.
How To Brew Ruan Zhi Tea
So, you’ve gotten your hands on some delicious Ruan Zhi tea leaves, but how do you brew the perfect cup? Much like other teas, it’s easy to brew Ruan Zhi tea. Here’s how you can brew the perfect cup of Ruan Zhi tea:
- Heat your water to 194-202 degrees Fahrenheit
- Place your tea leaves into the pot
- Pour the hot water over the tea leaves
- Leave to steep for 45-60 seconds
- Remove the tea leaves
- Pour the tea into tea cups and serve!
Before you serve your tea, you can add in your optional ingredients like sugar, milk, honey, or whatever additives you’re planning to stir into the tea.
Something to keep in mind when brewing Ruan Zhi tea, or really any other black tea, is that the longer you steep it, the stronger it will become. Be careful, though. There’s a fine line between a strong tea and a bitter or burnt-tasting tea.
Caffeine Content of Ruan Zhi Tea
One of the best things about this type of tea is that it naturally has no caffeine! Even though this is black tea, there’s no caffeine. The lack of caffeine tends to throw people off since most black teas tend to have one of the highest caffeine content of all the tea varieties.
You can drink the beverage at any point during your day without worrying about a caffeine crash at some point. Keep in mind that if you add sugar constantly to this tea, you might feel a sugar rush you wouldn’t usually feel.
Carb Content of Ruan Zhi Tea
It’s hard to find information on the carbohydrate content in this type of tea. It very much depends on which brand of tea you purchase and if you choose to add anything to the tea to make it taste how you want. Generally, Ruan Zhi tea has little to no carbs in the tea without additives.
Calories in Ruan Zhi Tea
Ruan Zhi tea naturally has zero calories in the beverage. When you choose to add milk, honey, sugar, or other additives is when you’ll see the calorie count increase. Even when you decide to add these things to your Ruan Zhi tea, you should have a manageable amount of calories added to a single cup.
Final Thoughts
Ruan Zhi tea is a delicious black tea that comes from the highlands of China. You’ll find various Asian countries growing this tea, and they all have a similar floral and sweet flavor. You can brew the tea within seconds, add your favorite sweeteners and enjoy it on a cold day or when you need something soothing for your throat.
