This rare lot is grown at an elevation of 1,000 meters in the misty highlands of Mogok, a valley located in the Mandalay region of northern Myanmar.

Historically dubbed the "Valley of Rubies" due to its world-famous gemstone mines, Mogok offers a sub-tropical alpine microclimate that deviates sharply from the tropical plains of the country. Shielded by towering mountain ridges, the semi-wild tea trees thrive in rich, mineral-dense soils, growing slowly to lock a highly concentrated, fruity complexity directly into the leaves

"Black Ruby" is an award-winning tea made in extremely limited quantities -with the entire estate producing just around 25 kilograms of hand-made tea per month.

Local tea masters selectively pluck only the tenderest two leaves and a bud from semi-wild trees. The processing requires minimal mechanical intervention: the fresh leaves are carefully withered, pan-heated, rolled by hand, and laid out to dry slowly under the natural mountain sun.

This gentle, deliberate processing coaxes out an immensely fragrant, amber-tinted liquor that completely lacks the aggressive astringency found in mass-produced black tea

Grown at the Five Trees Estate, this tea is the flagship creation of Mogok Tea, a social enterprise founded by London-based Mogok native Phyu Thwe.

In a region heavily scarred by environmental degradation from gemstone mining, Phyu returned to her native soil to establish a sustainable, eco-friendly agricultural alternative. Named after five majestic, ancient banyan trees that stand as guardians at the village entrance, the estate acts as a collective haven for local families.

Developed alongside international specialty tea consultants, their rigorous commitment to pure, community-driven farming was internationally recognized when Black Ruby claimed the prestigious Gold Award at The Leafies