Two wild, indigenous tea subspecies, Taiwan Mountain Tea and Red Sprout Mountain Tea, were discovered in Taiwan as early as the 17th century. However, they had little economic value and were not widely used due to their bitter taste and thin, brittle leaves.

More than 200 years ago, some tea trees from Fujian Province in continental China were delivered to Taiwan. It was the beginning of the tea culture in Taiwan.

The ideal leaf structure for hand-picked tea is 2-3 leaves, a bud and a stem. When tea is harvested by hand, farmers can choose the ideal part of the plant that is most suitable for high-quality brewing, and usually these are the new growth of the tea bush (2-3 leaves, bud and stem).

Teahouses have become a distinctive part of Taiwan's culture. People go for the ambience and to have a good cup of tea.

You can find teahouses all over the island. Spending a few hours in pleasant surroundings over a pot of best oolong tea is as easy and every bit as fashionable as finding a cup of coffee in one of the popular coffee shops. Some people go to teahouses for tea, others go just for the ambience.

10th of October is Taiwan’s National Day, also known as Double 10 Day.

The 10th of October or «Double Tenth Day» is a main national holiday in Taiwan. This day is considered the foundation day of the first Republic of China.

10 (ten) is written as 十, and this gives this sign to the holiday.

Coffee and tea are two of the most popular beverages in the world. If you enjoy a delicious cup of either, it’s always good to know how to brew them in the best way possible to get the most out of every cup.

Gaiwan (蓋碗/盖碗) is a special cup with a cover and a saucer for a tea brewing. Volume could be different - usually it is 80-200 ml. Usually gaiwan is made from porcelain, but also could be from glass or clay.