Taiwanese tea was introduced to Taiwan 200 years ago by immigrants from Fujian. Over the years, local farmers have developed a variety of popular teas based on Taiwan’s unique island environment, mountainous terrain, and subtropical climate. Here are the 9 most representative and famous Taiwan teas.
The Most Famous Taiwanese Teas: 9 Well-Known Teas from Taiwan
Wenshan Baozhong Tea: Produced in northern Taiwan, this tea belongs to the oolong category and is characterized by its light fermentation. Known for its delicate fragrance and sweet taste, it is ideal for those who enjoy subtle tea aromas.
Dong Ding Oolong Tea: Originating from Dong Ding Mountain in Nantou County, this oolong tea undergoes medium fermentation and medium-to-heavy roasting, resulting in a semi-ball-shaped tea. It is famous for its amber-colored liquor and fruity aroma. It is now produced in Nantou and Chiayi.
Oriental Beauty Tea: Mainly produced in New Taipei City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County, this oolong tea has the highest level of fermentation among oolong teas. It is unique because the tea leaves are bitten by the “small green leafhopper,” imparting a special honey and ripe fruit aroma. The tea is characterized by its strip-like appearance and orange-red liquor with a sweet flavor.
High Mountain Oolong Tea: Grown at elevations above 1,000 meters, with famous production areas including Ali Shan, Shilinxi, Lishan, and Ren’ai Township. This oolong tea is lightly fermented and unroasted, resulting in a spherical shape. Due to its high-altitude growth, it has a lower bitterness, higher sweetness, and emits a distinctive high-mountain aroma. Higher altitude teas are generally considered to be of superior quality.
Sun Moon Lake Red Tea: Produced around Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, this fully fermented black tea has a strip shape. The main varieties include TTES No. 18 (Red Jade), TTES No. 8 Assam, and Taiwan Mountain Tea. Different varieties of Sun Moon Lake Red Tea offer aromas of cinnamon, mint, and wood.
Muzha Tieguanyin: Originating from the Muzha area in Taipei City, this oolong tea features a strip shape, medium fermentation, and heavy roasting, resulting in a deep brown appearance. The tea has a rich, roasted aroma and a robust flavor. The local tea tree varieties include Tieguanyin, Jin Xuan, Si Ji Chun, Wuyi, and Huang Jin Gui, with Tieguanyin being the best, known as “Zheng Cong Tieguanyin.”
Red Oolong Tea: Introduced in 2008, this oolong tea is mainly produced in Taitung and features a ball shape with heavy fermentation. It combines the light fragrance of oolong tea with the rich flavor of black tea, similar to Oriental Beauty Tea in its fermentation level.
Honey Scented Black Tea: Produced in New Taipei City, Nantou County, and Chiayi County, this fully fermented black tea also undergoes the “small green leafhopper” process, resulting in a honey and ripe fruit aroma. The tea has a distinctive honey fragrance and rich black tea flavor, making it a unique Taiwanese black tea.
Sanxia Biluochun: Produced in Sanxia District, New Taipei City, this green tea is characterized by its strip shape. Biluochun is a traditional Chinese tea that was brought to Taiwan over a hundred years ago by immigrants. Taiwanese farmers improved it by using a tea tree variety called “Qingxin
These are the most requested and best-selling Taiwanese teas according to our store, and they represent some of the most famous Taiwan teas. If you are new to tea or looking for a gift of Taiwanese tea for friends and family, these 9 teas are excellent choices.