Enjoy Fine Taiwan Teas

Thomas C. Shu

Where is Taiwan ?

Geography & Climate Latitude/Longitude (Taipei) 25°2′0″ N 121°38′0″ E

Relative Location Bisected by the Tropic of Cancer, Taiwan is in both the eastern and northern hemispheres. This island country is positioned off the southeastern coast of Asia, directly east of China, and bordered by the Pacific Ocean, East China Sea, South China Sea, Luzon Strait and the Taiwan Strait.

Area 35,801 square kilometers (13,823 square miles) about the size of the state of West Virginia. High Mountains over 3,280 feet make up about 1/3 of the land., Hills and terraces between 328 and 3,280 feet account for another 1/3.,, and alluvial plain below 328 feet about 1/3. 170-mile Central Mountain Range has more than 200 peaks over 9,800 feet high. At 12,966 feet, Yushan is the highest peak in East Asia.

Climate subtropical, and dramatically affected by summer monsoons.The rainy season (June - September) brings significant amounts of precipitation (annual aver. 97 inches), and during this time period, Western Pacific typhoons are a dependable yearly weather phenomenon. From November - February (even though considered the dry season), fog and drizzle are usually a part of the daily forecast.

With suitable weather and

rich soil in Taiwan,

hardworking people grow and

produce finest teas.

History of Taiwan Tea

A young man wearing bamboo hat strolls to the tea garden. The tea bushes are green and the branches

are full of young buds and new leaves; A young girl carrying a bucket of snacks strolls to the tea garden. Looking at her lover with big sweet smiles, hopes our fine teas will sell better price!!

茶園情真 ( 用 客家歌謠「天公落水」 )

天 公 吶 落 水 啊天公吶 落水啊 阿哥啊 戴著笠媽 來到茶園唇

茶樹啊 青又青 茶枝生満嫩芽新葉天公吶 落水啊 阿妹啊 摜著點心 來到茶園唇

看哥啊 笑咪咪 期望好茶啊 賣出好價天 公 吶 落 水 啊

Taipei 101 Tower

(509 M, completed 2004)

World’s Tallest Building

As seen in the map of Taiwan, the country is shaped very much like a sweet potato. The people of Taiwan often refer to themselves as the "children of the Sweet Potato" .

Jan Huygen van Linschoten, In late 16 Century, this Dutch navigator on a Portuguese ship yelled out Ilha Formosa (beautiful island) when landed on Taiwan.

•Wild tea bushes in Taiwan was found

a diary from 1645 stated this

details recorded in “Jhu-Lo-Hsien-Ji” 1717

• Tea Plants were brought by immigrants from China

1796-1820: According to “History of Taiwan” (Lien Ya-Tang),

Ko Chao brought few Fujien Wu-Yi bushes from

China and planted them in northern Taiwan.

1855: Lin Fong-Tse brought and planted 36 Chin-Sin

Oolong bushes in Tung-Ting (Nantou) area.

1881: Wu Fu-Lau started the Pouchong tea production.

1910: Chang Nai-Miao brought and planted Tie-Guan-Yin

bushes in Mucha (Taipei suburban) area.

Four Important Historical Periods:1.) Period of Establishment (Before 1885)

•1865: 82,022 kgs were exported out of Tanshui Harbor per Custom record

•1869: John Todd shipped 127,860 kgs “Formosa Tea” to New York.

•1880: 5,428,553 kgs of Oolong tea were exported

•1865-1880: Oolong tea became Taiwan’s major exported item

2.) Foundation Period (1885-1944)

•1885: Liu Ming-Chuan, systemized the tea industry

•1895: Japanese Tenure period of time, expanded Black tea production

•1903: Taiwan Tea Manufacture Experiment Station established

3.) Prosperous Export Period (1945-1982)

•1948: Pan-fired Green tea production expanded and exported to North Africa

•1959: The largest tea cultivation in history - 48,442 ha (119,705 acre),

tea production volume reached up to 28,639 metro tons.

•1965: Steam-fired Green tea exported to Japan

•1981: Tea imports commenced. In 1982, domestic consumption demand grew higher

4.) Domestic Consumption Booming Period (1982 up to Present)

Current Status

• Production: 18,000 m.t.

• Export: 2,000 m.t.

• Import: 24,000 m.t.

• Per Capita Tea Consumption: 1.50 kg

(1976 – 0.27 kg; 1995 – 1.20 kg)

• Producing World’s finest Oolong

• RTD, Boba Tea, Powdered Tea, and

Tea Cusine

• Diversified Applications….

Main growing areas (five regions):

1. Northern Taiwan: Includes Taipei County’s Hsindian, Pinglin, Shenkeng, Shidian, and Sanhsia; Taipei’s Mucha and Nangang; and Ilan County’s Datung, Sanhsing, Dongshan, and Jiaoshi.

2. Tao-Chu-Miao Area: Includes Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli Counties.

3. South-central Taiwan: Includes Nantou, Yunlin, Taichung, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung Counties.

4. Eastern Taiwan: Includes Taitung and Hualian Counties.

5. High Mountain Regions: Taiwan’s high mountains locate at 1,000m (3,280 ft) and higher altitude areas, including Alishan mountain (Ali Mt.) range, Yu Shan (Jade Mt.), Hsueh Shan (Snow Mt.), and the Central and Taitung mountain ranges.

Specialty Teas in Taiwan•Wenshan Pouchong Tea

•Semi-ball Pouchong Tea (Tungting Tea)

•Iron Goddess Tea (Tie Guan Yin)

•White Tip Oolong (Bai Hao Oolong or Pongfeng Tea)

•High Mountain Tea (Gao Shan Cha)

•Green Tea

•Black Tea

Wenshan Pouchong Tea

•Elegant Touch

•Luscious Aroma

•Sparkling Sweet

•Lingering Finish

•Baozhong ---

Wrapping Variety

Sure-Win, Good Luck

文山包種 ( 用 鄧雨賢 「十八姑娘」調 )

文山介包種 第一香 名聲響輕輕走水 慢慢介浪菁 吐 芬 芳

滿山介茶園 萬綠叢中一點紅迷人介清香 入口甘醇 精 神 爽

啊 --- 啊 --- 啊 --- --- 啊 ---文山包種 第一香 名 聲 響

Semi-ball Pouchong Tea (Tungting Tea)

• 1855 Started by Lin Fong-Tse

• 1975 at Lugu, Nantou

First Tea Grower’s Contest

22 lots (600g ea) – 20+1+1

2005, started at US$900/chin; $26,500/chin

• Getting too green ???

Iron Goddess Tea (Tie Guan Yin)

• A special Tea Plant from Anxi, Fujien Province, China

• A Special Processing Technique:

Rolling and Baking

• Taiwan Tie-Guan-Yin vs. China Tie-Guan-Yin

鐵觀音 ( 用 客家唸謠 「月光光」 )

鐵觀音 盡傳神 佇台灣 生了根

布球包 揉成型 竹籠裝 炭火炡

焙出 陣陣 茶葉香 入喉 轉甘 韻味長好茶 拿 來 請 人 飲

讚歎 台 灣 鐵 觀 音

White Tip Oolong (Baihao Oolong or Pongfeng Tea)

•Taiwan’s Signature Tea

(the genuine Formosa Oolong)

• Angels sent by God to Hakka

• Special skill of plucking –

one bud and two tender leaves

still intact after brewed

• Craftsmanship in Withering,

Oxidation, and drying/rolling

• Eastern Beauty, 5-Color Tea,

Champagne Oolong……

Formosa Oolong ( 膨風茶 ) ( 用 鄭智仁「台灣百合」 )

Formosa 烏龍茶 實在讚 蓬萊寶島介特產 作茶介功夫 第一流 一年一季來膨風 綠色介茶蟬 六月來訪問 留下特殊天然蜜香 風行全世界 人人都誇讚 東方美人名聲最響 作茶介功夫 第一流 一年一季來膨風 Formosa Oolong truly is amazing, the famous product of the Island; It takes great craftsmanship to produce this tea, and merely one short crop every year. Those green leaf harpers are angels sent by God, arrive in June with their natural fragrance. The beloved Formosa Oolong is known as Oriental Beauty throughout the world. It takes great craftsmanship to produce this tea, and merely one short crop a long year.

High Mountain Tea (Gao Shan Cha)

• Over 1000 Meter (3,280 ft)

Cool mists and fog combined

with reduced sunlight affect

chemistry of tea leaves. More

aromatic and less astringent.

• Jade Oolongs (sololy)

(Semi-Ball Pouchong)

• Great Cultivars:

Chin-Sin, Gin-Suan, Tsui-Yu,

Evergreen

• Ecologically Sound???

Cultivar - TTES No.12 (Gin Suan) Cultivar - TTES No.13 (Tsui Yu)

Cultivar - Evergreen Cultivar- Chin Sin Oolong

高山茶 ( 用 台灣邵族「高山青」 )

高山青 澗水長阿里山介翠玉 圓又圓 啊 杉林溪介四季春 冇得比 哟

啊 --- 啊 --- 啊 --- --- 啊 --- 啊 --- 啊 --- 啊 --- --- 啊 ---梅山介金萱 梨山介青心 玉山介靈氣 大禹嶺介雲霧

台灣介高山 多又高水土愛保持 品種愛顧好

台灣介 高山茶 寶 ---- 中 ---- 寶

New Taiwan Oolong ?

what is

Burgundy Oolong ?

Learn it! Share it!

Green Tea• Dragon Well, Pi Lo Chun

for new comers after 1949

• 1945 -1980 export stars:

Gunpowder, Chunmee

Steam-fired Sencha

• Green Tea Powder and

diversified applications in

foods and cosmetics

• Jasmine Tea? Green Tea?

Black Tea

Assam Plant in Taiwan

TTES 18 (Ruby 18)Sun Moon Lake

• Honcha, Red Tea ?

• Japanese brought in Assam plants

• Ruby 18 hits the market high

• Sun Moon Lake, Hualien Ruisui

• Boba Tea – Taiwan’s Invention

Guidelines for Purchasing Taiwan Teas

1) Observe the appearance of the leaves thoroughly

2) Smell the fragrance of the leaves

3) Evaluate the taste and fragrance of the brewed tea

4) Examine the brewed leaves

How to Store Your Tea ?• Air, Moisture, light – tea’s three enemies

• Repack according to pace of consumption