Deepening: Tea from Taiwan

Taiwan has long been known among Eastern countries as the land of tea, and indeed the island is the world’s most important producer of semi-fermented tea. About a century and a half ago, the island became famous for its Formosa Oolong (Wulong) Tea.

Taiwan is an island located off the southeast coast of China. It has an elongated, leaf-like shape that runs roughly from north to south. The west coast of the island has fertile plains that support a large swath of land cultivated for agriculture, and the central and eastern areas are mountainous. Tea is grown throughout Taiwan but the best quality tea comes from the mountainous regions.

The climate in mountain regions is much cooler than in the lowlands. There can be a temperature difference of up to 20 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit) between the plains and the high mountains. In addition to having fresh air, the mountains are often shrouded in fog which produces an ideal environment for growing tea.

During the years of 1796-1820, tea traders from Fujian brought tea tree seeds to Taiwan, and because the seeds took root particularly well in the soil and climate, northern Taiwan began planting and producing some of the world’s most beautiful tea trees to date.

Savoring the taste of Taiwan tea

Taipei County

Taipei County is the northernmost growing region in Taiwan. It is also home to some of the oldest tea farms on the island, dating back over 100 years. The Oolong Tie Guan Yin gardens of Mu Zha District have become a living relic of traditional Oolong tea dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Largely due to geography, the total area of tea farms and the amount produced has remained relatively small.

Estimated total area of tea production: 2,200 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 1,400 tons.

Altitude: maximum 600 m

Types of tea:

包 種 烏龍茶 Bao Zhong Oolong Tea (Wen Shan)

鐵 觀音 烏龍茶 Oolong Tie Guan Yin Tea (Mu Zha)

碧螺春 籙 茶 green tea Bi Luo Qun (San Xia; Hai Shan)

龍井茶 Long Jing green tea

Taoyuan County

Taoyuan County is located southwest of Taipei County and has a remarkable history in red tea production. In recent decades, however, low-elevation farms have been developed on flat land. The higher yield per area ratio is evidently due to the flatter land, where harvesting machines can be used at lower elevations, where tea plants grow faster.

Estimated total area of tea production: 1,100 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 1,200 tons

Altitude: maximum 400 m

Types of tea:

包 種 烏龍茶 Bao Zhong Oolong Tea

紅茶 red tea

四季 春 烏龍茶 tè Oolong Four Seasons Primavera

Xin Zhu County

Xin Zhu (Hsinchu) County is south of Taoyuan on the west coast and is home to the rare but popular Oriental Beauty Oolong tea. This is considered a traditional Artisan Tea and is one of Taiwan’s claims to fame in the tea industry. Most of the gardens are located in the foothills, not far from the west coast.

Total estimated area of tea production: 675 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 630 tons

Altitude: maximum 450 m

Types of tea:

白毫 烏龍茶 Oolong Bai Hao Tea (Oriental Beauty)

Miaoli County

Miaoli County is south of Xin Zhu County on the west coast, and it is here that further development of tea production that began in Xin Zhu has occurred. Farms here are also small, family-owned, and produce most of the Oriental Beauty (Bai Hao).

Total estimated area of tea production: 780 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 960 tons

Altitude: maximum 450 m

Types of tea:

白毫 烏龍茶 Tea Bai Hao Oolong

Taichung County

In addition to a small amount of low-altitude farms producing mostly red tea, Taichung County’s claim to fame is being the home of Lishan and Da Yu Ling high mountain tea. These place names are renowned as the source of the finest Taiwan High Mountain Oolong tea, which grows at the highest altitude of Taiwan’s crops. Because there is some controversy about the agricultural development of these high altitude locations, the official estimate of the area and annual yield may be lower than what is documented.

Total estimated area of tea production: 95 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 50 tons

Altitude: maximum 2600 m

Types of tea:

高山 烏龍茶 high mountain Oolong tea (Li Shan; Da Yu Ling)

紅茶 black tea

Nantou County

Nantou County is by far the largest area and quantity of tea production in Taiwan. Located around the geographical center of the island, it is the only region that is landlocked. It is also home to the highest mountain range and peak in Taiwan. Originally the home of Oolong Dong Ding tea and Sun Moon Lake red tea dating back over 200 years, vast areas at all elevations have been developed in the last thirty years.

Estimated total area of tea production: 8,100 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 11,635 tons

Altitude: maximum 2200 m

Types of tea:

高山 烏龍茶 high mountain Oolong tea (He Huan Shan; Shan Lin Xi, Yu Shan)

凍 頂 烏龍茶 Oolong Dong Ding tea (Lu Gu commune)

台 茶 12 號, 13 號, 四季 春 hybrid Oolong tea: Jin Xuan, Tsui Yu, Four Seasons Spring (Ming Jian; Zhu Shan municipalities)

紅茶 red tea (Sun Moon Lake)

台灣 山茶 Taiwan Mountain Tea (wild strain) (Sun Moon Lake area)

Chiayi County

Chiayi County is located southwest of Nantou County and is the second largest producing region in Taiwan. This area has been the most recent large-scale, high-altitude development of tea cultivation in Taiwan. Most of the volume of the Chiayi producing region is located on the western slopes and foothills of the famous Alishan mountain range. The high mountain Oolong tea that comes from this region has its own sweet flavor and mild character – making it very popular among Oolong tea newcomers.

Total estimated area of tea production: 2,300 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 1,630 tons

Altitude: maximum 1600 m

Types of tea:

高山 烏龍茶 high mountain Oolong tea (Ali Shan; Mei Shan commune)

台 茶 12 號, 四季 春 Oolong hybrid: Jin Xuan, Four Seasons Spring (Mei Shan commune)

Yunlin County

Yunlin County is to the north of Chiayi County, on the southwest side of Nantou County. It is mostly flat, with rolling hills along the eastern border. There is a considerable amount of low-lying farms here that produce all the popular types of Oolong tea, which are mostly machine harvested due to the flat terrain.

Total estimated area of tea production: 495 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 715 tons

Altitude: maximum 300m

Types of tea:

台 茶 12 號, 四季 春 Oolong ibrido: Jin Xuan, Four Seasons Spring

烏龍茶 Oolong tea

Kaohsiung County

Kaohsiung County touches the southern border of Nantou County and winds through the largest watershed region in Taiwan, eventually flowing into Kaohsiung Harbor. There is a relatively small amount of tea production in this region in proportion to its size. Most of the tea that comes from here is grown by the municipality of San Ming and surrounding areas.

Total estimated area of tea production: 165 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 191 tons

Altitude: maximum 300m

Types of tea:

烏龍茶 Oolong tea (San Ming Xiang)

山茶 Taiwan Mountain Tea (wild strain) (Liu Gui)

Ping Dong County

Ping Dong County covers the southern tip of the island and has some low-lying mountain areas in the northern part, but the most famous place for tea production is very close to the southernmost tip, called Gang Kou or “Port Mouth” – where Taiwan’s only type of green tea is produced.

Total estimated area of tea production: 26 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 21 tons

Altitude: maximum 200m

Types of tea:

籙 茶 (Gang Kou)

Yilan County

Yilan County is located on the northeast coast and has some mountainous regions along the eastern border reaching the northern part of the central. The highest elevations of tea production are in the La La Shan region.

Total estimated area of tea production: 472 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 336 tons

Altitude: maximum 600m

Types of tea:

烏龍茶 Oolong tea

Hualien County

Hualien County is south of Yilan County on the east coast and produces a relatively small amount of red tea.

Total estimated area of tea production: 151 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 82 tons

Altitude: maximum 200m

Types of tea:

紅茶 red tea

Taidong County

Taidong County is south of Hualien County on the east coast and has a high plateau area in the northeast part of the county. This is the home of Oolong Lu Ye tea.

Total estimated area of tea production: 553 hectares.

Estimated annual yield: 407 tons

Altitude: maximum 400m

Types of tea:

烏龍茶 Oolong tea

Lu Gu District

Lu Gu District is located in the southwest corner of Nantou County in central Taiwan. It is one of the most famous places for tea in Taiwan – specifically for Oolong Dong Ding tea. The elevation here ranges from about 500 to 1500m and is home to some of the richest tea stories and most skilled artisans on the island. The “Lu Gu Farmers” Association hosts the largest and most prestigious Oolong tea competition in the world – with nearly 6000 participants in the competition.

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