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).

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.

Have you ever wondered why Japanese green teas are so bright green, while Taiwanese and Chinese ones are not. The reason lies in an additional process called de-enzyming or fixation.

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.

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.

The Duanwu Festival, also often known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional holiday originating in China, occurring near the summer solstice. It is also known as Zhongxiao Festival commemorating fealty and filial piety.

The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the four most important holidays that is celebrated in the Southwest of China. It has been held annually for 2000 years.