Taiwan's Tea Growing Regions
Although the island of Taiwan is not very big (about the size of Belgium, or Delaware and Maryland combined) it varies greatly in climate and geography. There are five mountain ranges with over 200 peaks that are above 3,000m elevation. About two-thirds of the island is mountainous, and this is why it is ideal for tea cultivation.
Tea plants can grow almost anywhere on this sub-tropical island, but they thrive in a climate comprised of daily cycles of sunshine and fog, with the right variation of temperature between night and day. On Taiwan, these conditions are mostly found at elevations between 1000-2000 meters, although a significant amount of quality tea is produced at lower elevations.
The following are the main tea growing regions in Taiwan- from north to south, and the types of tea they produce. The statistics of production area and annual yield were published by the government agricultural department in 2006.
Taipei County
Taipei County is the northernmost tea growing region in Taiwan. It is also the home of some the oldest tea farms on the island, dating back well over 100 years ago. The gardens of Tie Guan Yin Oolong in the Mu Zha district have become a living relic of traditional Oolong Tea dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Mostly do to the geography, the total area of tea farms and the quantity produced has remained relatively small.
Estimated total area of tea production: 2,200 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 1,400 metric tons.
Elevation: 600m maximum
Tea Types:
包種烏龍茶 Bao Zhong Oolong Tea (Wen Shan)
鐵觀音烏龍茶 Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea (Mu Zha)
碧螺春籙茶 Bi Luo Qun Green Tea (San Xia; Hai Shan)
龍井茶 Long Jing Green Tea
Taoyuan County
Taoyuan County lies southwest of Taipei County and also has some considerable history in Black Tea production. In recent decades however, low elevation tea farms on flatter terrain have been developed.. The larger yield per area ratio is evidently due to flatter ground where machine harvesting is possible at lower elevation where the tea plants grow faster.
Estimated total area of tea production: 1,100 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 1.200 metric tons
Elevation: 400m maximum
Tea Types:
包種烏龍茶 Bao Zhong Oolong
紅茶 Black Tea
四季春烏龍茶 Four Seasons Spring Oolong
Xin Zhu County
Xin Zhu (Hsinchu )County is south of Taoyuan on the west coast and is home to the rare, yet popular Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea. This is considered a tradtional Artisan Tea and is one of Taiwan’s claims to fame in the tea industry. Most of the tea gardens are found in the foothills, not far from the west coast.
Estimated total area of tea production: 675 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 630 metric tons
Elevation: 450m maximum
Tea Types:
白毫烏龍茶 Bai Hao (Oriental Beauty) Oolong Tea
Miaoli County
Miaoli County is south of Xin Zhu County on the west coast, and is where further development of tea production that started in Xin Zhu has occurred. The farms here are also small, family operated, and produce mostly Oriental Beauty (Bai Hao) Oolong.
Estimated total area of tea production: 780 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 960 metric tons
Elevation: 450m maximum
Tea Types:
白毫烏龍茶 Bai Hao Oolong Tea
Taichung County
In addition to a small amount of low elevation farms that mostly produce black tea, Taichung County’s claim to tea fame is that it is home to Lishan and Da Yu Ling High Mountain Tea. These place names are renowned as the source of the most prized Taiwan High Mountain Oolong Tea that grows at the highest elevation of tea cultivation in Taiwan.. As there is some controversy over the agricultural development of these high elevation locales, the official estimation of area and annual yield may be lower than what is documented.
Estimated total area of tea production: 95 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 50 metric tons
Elevation: 2600m maximum
Tea Types:
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 geographic center of the island, it is the only county that is landlocked. It is also home to the highest elevation mountain range and the highest peak in Taiwan. Originally the home of Dong Ding Oolong Tea and Sun Moon Lake Black Tea dating back over 200 years, vast areas at all elevations have been developed within the last 30 years.
Estimated total area of tea production: 8,100 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 11,635 metric tons
Elevation: 2200m maximum
Tea Types:
高山烏龍茶High Mountain Oolong Tea (He Huan Shan; Shan Lin Xi, Yu Shan)
凍頂烏龍茶 Dong Ding Oolong Tea (Lu Gu Township)
台茶12號，13號，四季春 Hybrid Oolong Tea: Jin Xuan, Tsui Yu, Four Seasons Spring (Ming Jian; Zhu Shan Townships)
紅茶 Black Tea (Sun Moon Lake)
台灣山茶 Taiwan Mountain Tea (wild strain) (Sun Moon Lake Area)
Chiayi County
Chiayi County lies southwest of Nantou County and is the second largest tea producing region in Taiwan. This area has been the most recent large scale high elevation development of tea cultivation in Taiwan. The bulk of the tea producing region in Chiayi lies on the western slopes and foothills of the famous Alishan mountain range. The High Mountain Oolong Tea from this region has its own distinct sweet flavor and mild character - making it quite popular among newcomers to Oolong Tea.
Estimated total area of tea production: 2,300 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 1,630 metric tons
Elevation: 1600m maximum
Tea Types:
高山烏龍茶 High Mountain Oolong Tea (Ali Shan; Mei Shan Township)
台茶12號, 四季春 Hybrid Oolong Tea: Jin Xuan, Four Seasons Spring (Mei Shan Township)
Yunlin County
Yunlin County is north of Chiayi County, on the southwest side of Nantou County. It is mostly flat, with rolling foothills along its eastern border. Here there are a considerable amount of low elevation tea farms producing all of the popular types of Oolong Tea that are mostly machine harvest due to its flat terrain.
Estimated total area of tea production: 495 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 715 metric tons
Elevation: 300m maximum
Tea Types:
台茶12號, 四季春 Hybrid Oolong Tea: Jin Xuan, Four Seasons Spring
烏龍茶 Oolong Tea
Kaohsiung County
Kaohsiung County touches the southern border of Nantou County and meanders through Taiwan’s largest watershed region that eventually empties into Kaohsiung Harbor. There is a relatively small amount of tea production in this county in proportion to its size. Most tea from here is cultivated from the San Ming Township and neighboring areas.
Estimated total area of tea production: 165 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 191 metric tons
Elevation: 300m maximum
Tea Types:
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 lower elevation mountainous areas in the northern part, but the most famous place name for its tea production is very near the southernmost tip, called Gang Kou or “Harbor Mouth” - where a unique type of Taiwan green tea is made.
Estimated total area of tea production: 26 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 21 metric tons
Elevation: 200m maximum
Tea Types: 籙茶 (Gang Kou)
Yilan County
Yilan County is on the northeast coast and has some mountainous regions along its eastern border that reaches into the northern part of the mountain range central mountain range. Higher elevations of tea production are in the La La Shan region.
Estimated total area of tea production: 472 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 336 metric tons
Elevation: 600m maximum
Tea Types: 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 Black Tea.
Estimated total area of tea production: 151 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 82 metric tons
Elevation: 200m maximum
Tea Types: 紅茶Black 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 Lu Ye Oolong Tea.
Estimated total area of tea production: 553 hectares.
Estimated annual yield: 407 metric tons
Elevation: 400m maximum
Tea Types: 烏龍茶 Oolong Tea
Lu Gu Township
Lu Gu Township is in the southwest corner of Nantou County in Central Taiwan. It is one of the most famous place names for tea in Taiwan - specifically Dong Ding Oolong Tea. The elevation here ranges from about 500m to 1500m and is home to some of the richest tea history and most skilled tea artisans on the island. The Lu Gu Farmers' Association hosts the largest and most prestigious Oolong Tea competition in the world - with nearly 6000 entries per competition.