Taiwan & the relationship with .

Jackson Huang

Sha Keng Manufactory, 115, Ning Sia Rd. Taipei,

Introductiop Taiwan (still known as Formosa in the tea trade) is a small island that produces less than 1% of the world's total tea production, but enjoys the highest priced tea in the world market. Taiwan offers all kinds of tea from green to black, but is the one and only country to produce the unique Formosa . 90% of the teas consumed domestically are Jade, Amber and White Tip Oolong, the triad of Taiwan . Now, Taiwan tea plants and tea masters are found outside the island, in such countries as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and . In and Out,That Is What Taiwap Tea Is All About Tea plants were brought from Fujian, China to grow on the island. • From Wu-Yi to Pouchong .....lighter fermentation, same appearance, straight curly. • From Ti-Kuan-Yin to Tung-Ting Oolong ..abut 30-35% fermentation, same appearance of ball-type. • From West Lake Dragon Well to San-Sia Dragon Well ....same produce way in a Taipei country San-Sia. • From Tai-Hu Pi-Lo-Chun to San-Sia Pi-Lo-Chun .....same produce way in a Taipei country, San-Sia. • From Temple Chun-Mee & Gunpowder to Formosan Green ....same pan-fired produce & refine process. • From CHINA pan-fired green tea to JAPANESE steaming green tea..leamed from SHIZUOKA to make & export to Japan. • From Tung-Ting Oolong to High Mountain Oolong...consumption guided tea farmer to produce fine tea, from sea-IeveI600M up to 2000M. • From tea factories to tea farmers ....government revised tea industry laws from only licensed tea factories can produce t~as, opened to individual tea farmer self made, sell & tax free. • From all export to heavily relied o~ import .....before 1975 Taiwan tea 90% for export world 65 countries but started import since 1980 & now heavily relied on import of 13000tons. Tea and Life in Taiwan Tea is always a civilized . is well promoted .... "Kung-Fu leaf , tea bags, bottled teas, cha-bon-bon (), cool brew pet TIGO are everywhere. • Tea used in food ingredients in daily life, e.g., ice creams, cakes, noodles, fancy dishes also in cosmetic & personal care .

-53- Session N EXPORT OF TAIWAN TEA BEFORE 1890: • British tea man Mr. Todo came to Taipei and established a tea firm. He exported Taiwan tea to China, USA and Europe then came Tait & Co. Jardine & Matheson, Hellyer & Co . • Tea became one of the very popular local agricultural products for export.

DURING THE 50 YEARS OF JAPANESE RULE, 1895-1945: • Policies encouraged rice farmers to plant varieties of tea on low sea-level hill-side in North Taiwan. Farmers gained more income and tea plantations grew fast and spread widely. • Policies inspired rich families in the countryside to organize or established their own tea factories to process rough produce teas. • Governmental tea experimental stations were set up for R&D in tea varieties, factory machinery, production skills and professional tea man training. • Introduced Assam variety to plant in central Taiwan, built black tea factories R&D black skills and machinery. • Industrialize tea productions as an important industry. There were laws governing farmers farming in tea fields, laws governing the establishment of factories and facilities, laws governing the sale and purchase of tea, etc. • Tea and became the 2 main industries of Taiwan and the most money-making agricultural products.

AFTER WORLD WAR IT (1945)WHEN TAIWAN WAS RETURNED TO ROC: • Tea industry mostly followed to the Japanese rules and regulations until 1980 when the government revised the tea policy. Tea production was opened up, apout or more than 8000 small tea farmers active in tea production, forced the old 379 licensed manufactories·closed and off the market . • In 1974 the processing techniques of Japanese steaming green tea were introduced to Taiwan and boomed soon. Half of local tea product were made "sencha" and exported to Japan. The booming lasted only about 10 years. By now only 4 factories are still in operating and producing "sencha".. • After 1980 government tea policy was revised mainly to encourage domestic consumption to replace the past "export policy". Taiwan now product is 20,000 tons, import 13,000 tons and exports 3000 tons. Per capita consumption is 1.30 kg, growing very fast from 0.3 kg of 15 years ago and the market quite actively . • At presently, Japan is the no. 1 tea import buyer and Japanese tourists are no. 1 buyers of Taiwan Oolong tea. We found that Taiwanese and Japanese might be different in the tasting of foods, but the loving of fine and fragrant oolong tea is totally the same.

Session N -54-