Savoring Taiwan | A Journey Along the Tea Trail

From Taiwan's shining star of the 19th century to the everyday beverage found in households across the island, the story of Taiwanese tea is one filled with twists and turns. Once beloved worldwide, Taiwanese tea faced cost pressures and international competition during the economic boom years. Yet rather than fading into obscurity, it found new life in the domestic market. With the introduction of imported tea leaves, tea became more affordable, drawing even more people to embrace the culture of tea drinking. By visiting "Featured Tea Farms" throughout Taiwan, visitors can deepen their understanding of Taiwanese tea and become true tea connoisseurs.

Coffee, too, was once beyond the reach of ordinary consumers. However, changing dietary habits combined with two waves of consumer revolution brought about by chain coffee shops and convenience stores created an unprecedented coffee market. Today, specialty coffee shops and home-brewed pour-over coffee have become part of daily life for many.

In the past, we might have imagined coffee beans bundled in burlap sacks, traveling by ship for months before reaching Taiwan. But in reality, Taiwan's unique geographical conditions make it ideal not only for growing tea but also for producing high-quality coffee beans. In fact, many tea plantations also cultivate coffee. Taiwanese-grown and roasted coffee beans have even fetched record-breaking prices on the global market!

In another corner of southern Taiwan, former betel nut plantations quietly began transforming in the 21st century, encouraged by government initiatives and market demand. Many farmers turned to cacao cultivation, creating a "black gold legend" and opening new doors for the industry.

Whether it's tea, coffee, or cacao, living in this beverage paradise, let's start by exploring the production regions of these drink ingredients and the experiences they offer, uncovering the secrets behind these beloved beverages!
A Journey Along the Tea Trail

Tea is a globally enjoyed beverage, internationally classified into six major categories. However, thanks to Taiwan's unique terroir and exquisite tea-making craftsmanship, Taiwanese tea has developed an even wider array of flavors. In 2020, the Tea and Beverage Research Station under the Ministry of Agriculture introduced the "Taiwan Specialty Tea Flavor Wheel" and "Eight Major Specialty Tea Categories," showcasing the remarkable diversity of Taiwanese tea.

The key factor distinguishing these eight tea categories is the degree of fermentation. They can be broadly classified into non-fermented green tea, partially fermented oolong teas (including Oriental Beauty tea), and fully fermented black tea. Different levels of fermentation produce distinctly different flavors in the tea leaves.

🍃Controlling Fermentation to Create Different Teas
Many people assume that a particular type of tea must come from a specific tea plant. In reality, this isn't necessarily the case. The factors influencing tea flavor can be broadly divided into three categories: tea plant variety, terroir, and craftsmanship.

Common tea plant varieties in Taiwan include Qingxin Oolong, Qingxin Damao, Jinxuan, Four Seasons Spring, and Ruby (TTES No. 18). Different varieties have their own characteristics and compounds that influence the tea's flavor. For example, tea leaves from Jinxuan plants typically carry a rich floral aroma, often described as a natural milk fragrance.

The growing environment of the tea plant, including soil, climate, and elevation, also affects the tea's flavor. The refreshing aroma of high mountain tea, for instance, comes from growing in high-altitude regions where significant day-night temperature variations cause the tea plants to grow slowly, producing their distinctive taste.

Beyond inherent conditions and environment, human influence is equally important, specifically the differences in tea-making craftsmanship. The tea-making process, from plucking and withering to rolling and drying, affects the quality and flavor of the tea at every step. Different techniques and methods produce different flavor characteristics. Controlling the degree of fermentation is a crucial part of this process, which is why leaves from the same tea plant can be made into many different types of tea.

In other words, tea leaves from the same plant can become green tea if the tea master chooses not to ferment them; various oolong teas if processed with different degrees of fermentation; or black tea products if fermented to around 70% or higher.

🍃Weather, Land, and Expertise: The Elements That Define Tea Flavor
Professional tea masters comprehensively evaluate the tea plant variety, tea garden environment, and current weather conditions to determine the best product for each batch of tea leaves. The tea consumers purchase is the result of this combined assessment of timing, location, and expertise.

When selecting and tasting tea, consumers might pay attention to these factors to gain a deeper appreciation of Taiwanese tea's unique charm. Of course, visiting a tea plantation in person, observing the growing environment, and learning about the tea-making process offers an even deeper understanding of Taiwanese tea.

Since 2014, the Agriculture and Food Agency has promoted the "Featured Tea Farm" initiative, modeled after European wineries, to upgrade Taiwan's tea industry to a sixth-level industry. Through rigorous selection, 36 distinctive tea farms across 8 counties and cities have emerged. In 2019, these Featured Tea Farms launched the joint brand "UTEE," presenting the diverse facets of Taiwanese tea to the world under a unified image.

These tea farms offer not only premium tea products but also combine tea garden landscapes, ecology, and culture to create immersive travel experiences. Besides tea tasting, visitors can participate hands-on in tea leaf picking and processing, experiencing the beauty of traditional tea arts. Let's visit several Featured Tea Farms across Taiwan and discover the famous teas of each region. (Photos of the following tea farms provided by the Agriculture and Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture)


1. Northern Taiwan: Biluochun Green Tea, Longjing Tea, Wenshan Baozhong Tea, Tieguanyin Tea, Oriental Beauty Tea
Northern Taiwan commonly produces Biluochun green tea, Longjing tea, Wenshan Baozhong tea, Tieguanyin tea, and Oriental Beauty tea. Biluochun and Longjing are green teas, while the latter three are oolong teas.

※Biluochun Green Tea and Longjing Tea
Biluochun green tea and Longjing tea are both important representatives of green tea. Biluochun features a curled, spiral shape with an elegant aroma, while Longjing tea is flat and smooth with a mellow, sweet taste. Both are renowned for their unique tea-making techniques and flavors. In Taiwan, the Sanxia district of New Taipei City is a major production area for both green teas. Made from the local "Qingxin Ganzi" variety, these teas carry on over a century of tea-making tradition combined with unique local terroir, creating distinctively flavored tea products.

Biluochun enthusiasts may want to visit Gufang Organic Tea Garden, one of the Featured Tea Farms, to discover the secrets of organic wild-cultivated Biluochun. Longjing tea lovers shouldn't miss the opportunity to purchase from the Sanxia Farmers' Association.

Gufang Organic Tea Garden (谷芳有機茶園) 
Gufang Organic Tea Garden in Sanxia, New Taipei City, adheres to an "organic wild cultivation" farming approach, allowing tea plants to grow in the most natural environment. Here you can taste the unique flavor of organic wild-cultivated Biluochun green tea. Beyond tea tasting, a tea garden tour is highly recommended. Groups of ten or more can arrange food and agriculture education courses, experiencing tea making, crafting adorable caterpillar-shaped mochi, or baking tea-scented cookies.
➤Address: No. 153-79, Baiji Road, Sanxia District, New Taipei City

※Wenshan Baozhong Tea and Tieguanyin Tea
Wenshan Baozhong tea is a tea variety unique to Taiwan. As a lightly fermented tea, it is beloved for its elegant aroma and mellow taste, featuring rich and varied notes of flowers, fruits, and honey. Baozhong tea was highly valued during the Japanese colonial period for its economic worth, with production areas expanding from Nangang to Muzha, Shiding, and Pinglin. The tea was collectively named "Wenshan Baozhong Tea" after the historical district name "Wenshan."

Tieguanyin tea is a type of oolong tea with a higher degree of fermentation than Wenshan Baozhong tea. The tea liquor presents a slightly reddish amber color, and through special tea-making techniques, it develops a distinctive flavor known as "Guanyin charm." The aftertaste carries subtle fruity acidity, creating a rich flavor profile that retains its aroma even after multiple infusions.

Baiqingchang Tea Workshop (白青長茶作坊)
Beyond quality tea leaves, Baiqingchang Tea Workshop offers rich tea ceremony experiences, allowing visitors to deeply understand tea cultivation, the tea-making process, and the joy of tea tasting. The tasting experience is conducted in two rounds for deeper appreciation of local Pinglin teas. The first round features five teas: Baozhong tea, Oriental Beauty tea, Tieguanyin tea, honey-scented black tea, and aged or white tea. The second round focuses on evaluating Baozhong teas of different varieties, seasons, roasting levels, or competition grades.
➤Address: No. 18, Section 2, Pingshuang Road, Pinglin District, New Taipei City

Nature Tea Manor (天然茶莊)
Nature Tea Manor boasts a century of heritage, primarily producing Baozhong and other oolong teas. They offer a special "In-depth Black Tea Experience Camp" from May to October for groups of six or more. You can venture into the tea garden, learn about the entire process from cultivation to finished tea, and experience the joy of tea picking while learning traditional tea-making craftsmanship. You can also enjoy "tea-infused cuisine" at Nature Tea Manor, savoring the multi-layered flavors that tea brings to the table.
➤Address: No. 331, Section 3, Datong Road, Xizhi District, New Taipei City

※Oriental Beauty Tea
Oriental Beauty tea, also known as Pengfeng tea, Pongfeng tea, or White-tip Oolong, is a semi-fermented tea with a distinctive flavor. Its tea leaves display multiple colors including white, green, yellow, red, and brown, with prominent white tips. After brewing, the tea liquor presents an amber color, releasing rich honey and fruity aromas. The unique flavor of Oriental Beauty tea comes from small green leafhoppers nibbling on the tea buds, causing a special enzymatic reaction in the leaves that creates this captivating aromatic tea.

Yishou Tea Factory (益壽製茶廠)
Located in the Guishan District of Taoyuan, Yishou Tea Factory has earned a distinguished reputation in the tea industry for its commitment to tea quality and innovative management philosophy. They use natural farming methods without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, ensuring every tea leaf comes from a healthy, pollution-free environment. The factory has been rated a four-star sanitary and safety tea factory by the Agriculture and Food Agency.

Beyond producing high-quality Oriental Beauty tea, oolong tea, and black tea, Yishou Tea Factory actively promotes tea culture. They offer tea-making classes and tea art courses, teaching tea knowledge and allowing visitors to experience the joy of making tea firsthand.

Visitors to Yishou Tea Factory can join tea garden tours, getting up close to tea plants, experiencing the pleasure of tea picking, and feeling the gifts of nature. Through tea tasting sessions, you can gain deeper understanding of different tea flavors.
➤Address: No. 852-3, Section 1, Zhongyi Road, Guishan District, Taoyuan City

2. Central Taiwan: Lugu Dongding Oolong Tea, Songbochangqing Tea, Sun Moon Lake Black Tea
Moving to central Taiwan, Nantou County is Taiwan's major tea-producing county. Approximately half of Taiwan's domestic tea production and value comes from Nantou. The main tea regions and teas include Dongding Oolong tea from Lugu Township, Songbochangqing tea from Mingjian Township, and the famous Sun Moon Lake black tea from Yuchi Township.

※Dongding Oolong Tea
Originally from the Dongding mountain area in Lugu, Nantou, the unique geographical environment and excellent characteristics of the Qingxin Oolong variety have created its distinctive flavor, making "Dongding Oolong" famous throughout Taiwan. Its tea leaves are tightly rolled and round, with a dark green, glossy appearance. After brewing, the tea liquor is golden and clear, with a smooth, round taste that is sweet and mellow, featuring a notable roasted character. Dongding Oolong tea is best brewed with higher water temperatures and can be steeped multiple times, with each infusion offering different flavor variations.

Yoshantea (Yoshantea Tea Culture Center) (遊山茶訪茶文化館)
Yoshantea and its predecessor, Jiazhen Tea Company, originated in Lugu, Nantou. The Chen family has focused on oolong tea cultivation and production for several generations, spanning over a century, and has an inseparable relationship with the development of Dongding Oolong tea.

Unlike typical tea farms that focus solely on their own gardens and tea-making, Jiazhen Tea Company has evolved with the times, extending its reach to high mountain tea regions throughout Taiwan. They've established stable partnerships with multiple tea farmers, engaged in wholesale tea business, and set up a modern tea factory in Nantou's industrial area that meets international standards.

They also actively promote Taiwanese tea culture, establishing the "Yoshantea Tea Culture Center" next to their factory. The center offers free guided tours in a comfortable indoor environment, with hands-on roasting experiences, hand-rolled tea ball activities, and tastings of various Taiwanese teas.
➤Address: No. 19, Yanping Road, Zhushan Township, Nantou County

Sun Moon Lake Dongfeng Black Tea Estate (日月潭東峰紅茶莊園)
Located at the foot of Maolan Mountain, not far from Sun Moon Lake, this tea garden combines beautiful scenery, traditional tea-making craftsmanship, and diverse experiences. The tranquil surroundings make it an ideal retreat for visitors seeking peace and quiet while enjoying tea. The estate carefully selects premium tea leaves and adheres to traditional tea-making methods, preserving the purest flavor of black tea.

Beyond admiring the expansive tea garden scenery, visitors can participate in experiential activities such as "One-Day Tea Master" (including tea picking and rolling) and "One-Day Tea Evaluator" (brewing various Taiwanese specialty teas for evaluation using competition tea assessment methods). Through hands-on tea rolling and evaluation, visitors learn to "converse" with tea through their five senses, gaining deeper understanding of Taiwanese tea culture.

When visiting Sun Moon Lake, besides touring Featured Tea Farms, visitors can stroll along the lakeside to admire the beautiful lake and mountain scenery, enjoying Taiwan's pristine beauty.
➤Address: No. 5-30, Youshui Lane, Yuchi Township, Nantou County

3. Southern Taiwan: Alishan High Mountain Tea, Pingtung Gangkou Tea
When thinking of tea from southern Taiwan, Alishan high mountain tea is unforgettable. Additionally, on the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan, you can find the uniquely flavored Gangkou tea.

※Alishan High Mountain Tea
Alishan high mountain tea comes from tea gardens above 1,000 meters elevation. Due to its unique high-altitude growing environment with significant day-night temperature variations and swirling clouds and mist, tea plants grow slowly with thick leaves and high polyphenol content, creating distinctive flavors. High mountain tea gardens feature numerous tea plant varieties, commonly including Qingxin Oolong, Jinxuan, and Four Seasons Spring, each with its unique characteristics. Alishan high mountain tea has a golden, bright liquor with rich flavor, lasting aftertaste, and excellent durability for multiple infusions, long beloved by tea connoisseurs.

YUYUPAS Mafei Tea Estate (優遊吧斯瑪翡茶莊)
YUYUPAS Mafei Tea Estate is located in a high mountain tea region at 1,300 meters elevation, combining premium tea gardens with Tsou indigenous cultural features. It offers visitors a unique destination to experience both tea culture and indigenous heritage.

The tea estate practices organic cultivation, primarily producing high-quality Alishan high mountain tea, including oolong tea and Jinxuan tea, along with diverse peripheral products such as tea bags and handmade soap. Visitors can participate in various experiential activities, including tea garden tours, tea art experiences, and Tsou cultural activities, learning about tea plant growth and enjoying the pleasures of brewing and tasting tea.

The tea estate also features traditional Tsou song and dance performances and indigenous cuisine, immersing visitors in the charm of indigenous culture. Besides high mountain tea, they also produce coffee, making them the only coffee estate in Taiwan with international Rainforest Alliance certification.
➤Address: No. 127-2, Neighborhood 4, Leye Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County

Yinshanyu Tea House (飲山郁茶館)
Yinshanyu Tea House is located along the Alishan Highway, a small but charming specialty tea house founded by a second-generation tea farmer who promotes tea culture from a young person's perspective. For travelers with tight schedules or those simply wanting to relax with tea, Yinshanyu offers a comfortable environment to savor various high mountain teas.
The tea house selects tea leaves in partnership with local farmers, emphasizing the original flavor of tea without over-processing, allowing visitors to taste tea in its purest form. They primarily offer various high mountain teas and competition teas, paired with exquisite tea snacks, enabling visitors to appreciate tea leisurely in a serene, comfortable setting.

For visitors wanting outdoor tea garden exposure, Yinshanyu Tea House offers various experiences, including "One-Day Tea Evaluator" sessions where visitors explore tea's charm from observing color and smelling aroma to tasting. During tea-making seasons, they also offer tea picking and rolling experiences, allowing visitors to understand the complete tea-making process and feel every detail from leaf picking to finished product. On a side note, the tea house's rose garden is also quite popular with visitors.
➤Address: No. 7-18, Xiding, Gongtian Village, Fanlu Township, Chiayi County

※Pingtung Gangkou Tea
Gangkou tea is mainly produced in Gangkou Village, Manzhou Township, Pingtung County, on the eastern side of the Hengchun Peninsula. It is Taiwan's southernmost and lowest-elevation tea production area, with over a century of tea industry history. Gangkou tea stands out in Taiwan's tea world for its unique environmental conditions and flavor.

This land faces relatively harsh climate conditions with high temperatures and strong sea winds, with downslope winds blowing in autumn and winter. Tea farmers joke that you don't need to worry about pesticides in Gangkou tea because the winds are so strong that even insects can't stand firm, making pesticide application unnecessary. Tea plants in the Gangkou area have adapted to the harsh environment by developing thicker leaves with less moisture.

Consequently, Gangkou tea has a unique "oceanic taste" in its liquor, rich and bittersweet. This oceanic taste reportedly comes from sea winds depositing salt on the tea leaves, creating an exceptionally savory, sweet aftertaste. Some tea enthusiasts describe Gangkou tea as having an intense flavor with a "wild" beauty.

4. Eastern Taiwan: Honey-Scented Black Tea, Red Oolong Tea
Driving along Provincial Highway 9 through the East Rift Valley, you'll pass three plateaus: Wuhe, Luye, and Longguomai. These are the main tea-producing areas in Hualien and Taitung, with Wuhe in Hualien famous for honey-scented black tea and Luye Highland being the birthplace of Red Oolong tea.

※Honey-Scented Black Tea
Honey-scented black tea is a uniquely Taiwanese tea variety, primarily produced in the Ruisui area of Hualien. Its distinctive flavor comes from tea leaves grown in a pesticide-free environment being nibbled by small green leafhoppers, which causes the leaves to develop a natural honey fragrance. Tea masters carefully tend to every step of the process from picking to roasting, giving honey-scented black tea its delicate, sweet aroma and mellow taste that captures the sunshine and fragrance of Hualien's land.

Jiaming Tea Garden (嘉茗茶園)
Jiaming Tea Garden, located in Hualien, is the birthplace of honey-scented black tea, with nearly 20 years of pesticide-free organic cultivation experience. The garden uses organic farming methods, creating an environment suitable for small green leafhoppers to thrive, resulting in the distinctive honey fragrance. Both the garden owner and his wife are recipients of the prestigious Shen Nong Award, dedicated to refining tea garden management and tea-making skills. Jiaming Tea Garden's honey-scented black tea has won numerous international awards and is beloved by tea enthusiasts.

The garden features the Honey-Scented Black Tea Ecological Story Hall, where visitors can learn about the tea-making process, understand the special relationship between small green leafhoppers and honey-scented black tea, and participate in tea tasting activities, experiencing Hualien's natural scenery and tea fragrance atmosphere.
➤Address: No. 65, Neighborhood 1, Wuhe Village, Ruisui Township, Hualien County

Dongsheng Tea Shop (東昇茶行)
Dongsheng Tea Shop has been deeply rooted in Hualien for over half a century, as one of the earliest tea cultivators in the Wuhe area. Over the years, they have maintained strict quality standards, committed to pesticide-free agriculture and natural farming methods, cultivating uniquely flavored tea leaves.

As one of Hualien County's Featured Tea Farms, they offer not only the renowned honey-scented black tea but also Haoxiang Honey Green Tea, Honey-Scented Oolong Tea, and High Mountain Wuyi Tea. Each tea product captures the unique character of Hualien's land. Additionally, Dongsheng Tea Shop has introduced an innovative tea product, "Canghong Yuanyang," which combines black tea with local coffee, offering tea enthusiasts an entirely new experience. Visitors can taste multiple tea products here and experience the flavors of different teas.
➤Address: No. 256, Section 2, Zhongzheng South Road, Ruisui Township, Hualien County
Jilin Tea Garden (吉林茶園)
Jilin Tea Garden is located on the Wuhe Plateau, passed down through four generations, adhering to natural production principles, working in harmony with the seasons and ecology, and using traditional natural farming methods. Since its establishment, the garden has consistently won awards in major tea competitions, committed to offering premium tea products that let more people experience the charm of this land and the dedication of its tea farmers.

Under the innovative management of the young owner, the "Ba han han non Good Tea Coffee Workshop" has been established, giving Jilin Tea Garden a fresh new look. Experiential activities for visitors vary by season, including tea farmer daily life experiences, making lemon-preserved tea, crafting honey-scented tea pearls, and tea blending fun. They also grow and roast their own coffee, incorporating diverse innovative thinking.
➤Address: No. 169, Jianana 2nd Road, Ruisui Township, Hualien County
※Red Oolong Tea
Red Oolong tea is a rising star in Taiwan's tea world in recent years. This tea was officially developed in 2006 by the team at the Taitung Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station, bringing new vitality to the mid-to-low elevation tea areas around Luye. Red Oolong combines the processing methods of both oolong and black tea, creating a distinctive flavor through meticulous craftsmanship. Its tea liquor is brilliantly red and bright, as clear as amber, while releasing an enchanting ripe fruit aroma with a mellow, sweet taste. Red Oolong tea is excellent both hot and cold brewed, making it popular in the market.

Linwang Tea Factory (林旺製茶廠)
Linwang Tea Factory is located at the foot of Gaotai Mountain in Luye Township, Taitung County. This gentle hillside possesses an exceptional environment ideal for tea plant growth. The factory adheres to land-friendly management principles, using organic fertilizers, manual weeding, and no pesticides to maintain ecological balance in the tea garden. They also implement a traceability registration system, strictly controlling every step from tea leaf harvesting to refined processing, ensuring tea quality and safety.

When visiting the tea garden, visitors can learn about land-friendly management methods and the production process of Taiwan's innovative tea products, while personally tasting the unique Red Oolong tea produced here.
➤Address: No. 55, Nan'er Road, Luye Township, Taitung County
💡【Bonus Knowledge】Taiwan High Mountain Tea

Taiwan high mountain tea is internationally acclaimed for its superior geographical environment and distinctive flavors. Major production areas, besides Alishan which has already been introduced, include Lishan, Shanlinxi, Dayuling, Qilai Mountain, Yushan, Baxian Mountain, Lalashan, and Fushoushan. These tea regions are located in high mountain areas above 1,000 meters elevation, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist, cool climate, and significant day-night temperature variations, providing ideal conditions for high mountain tea plant growth.

Regarding tea plant varieties, the most common high mountain tea variety is Qingxin Oolong, along with notable amounts of Jinxuan and Four Seasons Spring. Since these are all suitable for making oolong tea, tea leaves from high mountain tea regions are mostly processed into various oolong teas.

The flavor characteristics of high mountain tea include golden, bright tea liquor with rich, layered taste, refreshing fragrance, lingering sweetness, and distinctive fruity aromas. For example, tea from the Lishan region is particularly noted for its uplifting aroma and fresh, pure taste, with subtle hints of peach fragrance.

Some tea enthusiasts refer to the distinctive aroma of different high mountain teas as "mountain character," just as each person has their own personality. High mountain teas from different growing environments exhibit different mountain characters. Regardless of which tea region's high mountain tea, they all share the characteristic of being suitable for multiple infusions, perfect for slow, contemplative appreciation.

This content was translated by AI. Please refer to the original text if you have any concerns.