Map of Taiwan / Formosa

Taiwan / Formosa

Wikipedia: Taiwan 
Updated: Oct. 29, 2017 

Browse Teas From Taiwan / Formosa (239) - Read Reviews (215)

Table of contents:
About Taiwan / Formosa | Tea-Producing Regions of Taiwan / Formosa | Styles of Tea Produced in Taiwan / Formosa | Best (Top-Rated) Taiwanese Teas

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About Taiwan / Formosa

Clickable map of Taiwan; regions producing tea are highlighted in green.
Taiwan, often known in tea circles as Formosa, is an important producer of teas, especially oolong teas. Taiwan is governed by the Republic of China, Zhonghua Minguo(中華民國), the government that fled mainland China following the Chinese civil war.

Taiwan does not produce a very high volume of tea, but its teas are well-represented in specialty tea stores and are well-known among tea connoisseurs. The vast majority of tea produced in Taiwan is consumed in Taiwan. Taiwan has a strong tea culture, and the Taiwanese tea market is considered highly demanding; Taiwan imports some of the highest-quality oolong teas from other countries.

Compared to mainland China, Taiwan has a relatively short history of tea cultivation, starting in the mid-19th century. Although Taiwan does produce green, black, and white teas, it is most famous for the production of oolongs and pouchong teas, and is the origin of many well-known oolongs, including Tung Ting (Dong Ding), and Alishan oolong.

Geography and climate

A tea plantation in WuHe, Taiwan. Photo by Fred Hsu, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
The eastern two-thirds of Taiwan consist of rugged mountains; most of the population is concentrated in the flat area to the west of the mountains. The climate in Taiwan ranges from a marine tropical climate to a humid subtropical climate in the north of the island and at moderate elevations, and alpine climates at the higher points.

As Taiwan lies on the northern border of the tropics, the climate has a well-defined cooler winter and hotter summer, with the seasons more pronounced farther north, farther inland, and at higher elevations. Total rainfall and humidity is high everywhere in Taiwan, but, echoing the overall pattern of the Asian monsoon, the summer months have heavier rainfall and the winter months are drier. Higher elevations, where much of the tea is grown, have cooler winters and more variable temperatures, and much higher total rainfall.

Tea-Producing Regions of Taiwan / Formosa

Styles of Tea Produced in Taiwan / Formosa

This is a selection, not an exhaustive listing, of the styles of tea most commonly produced in Taiwan / Formosa.

Best Taiwanese Teas

The notion of the "best" Taiwanese teas is subjective, because different people have different tastes. We present the most often-rated and highest-rated teas produced in Taiwan / Formosa, and allow you to draw your own conclusions.

Most Often-Rated Teas

Picture of Peach Oolong (Peachy Oolong)

Peach Oolong (Peachy Oolong)

Brand:Adagio Teas
Style:Flavored Oolong
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
65
7 Ratings
Picture of Hu-Kwa Tea

Hu-Kwa Tea

Brand:Mark T. Wendell
Style:Lapsang Souchong
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
97
6 Ratings
Picture of Dong Ding Oolong

Dong Ding Oolong

Brand:Tradition
Style:Jade Oolong
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
67
5 Ratings
Picture of Nonpareil Taiwan Li Shan Oolong Tea

Nonpareil Taiwan Li Shan Oolong Tea

Brand:TeaVivre
Style:Oolong Tea
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
57
5 Ratings
Picture of Taiwan Jin Xuan Milk Oolong Tea

Taiwan Jin Xuan Milk Oolong Tea

Brand:TeaVivre
Style:Milky Oolong
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
44
5 Ratings

Top-Rated Taiwanese Teas

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Bao Zhong Oolong Tea

Brand:Rishi Tea
Style:Pouchong Tea
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
100
3 Ratings
No image of this tea

Honey Black Tea

Brand:Health & Tea
Style:Black Tea
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
98
3 Ratings
No image of this tea

Formosa Amber Oolong Select

Brand:Upton Tea Imports
Style:Amber Oolong
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
98
3 Ratings
Picture of Bio Pao Chung Pouchong

Bio Pao Chung Pouchong

Brand:Teehaus Bachfischer
Style:Pouchong Tea
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
97
3 Ratings
Picture of Hu-Kwa Tea

Hu-Kwa Tea

Brand:Mark T. Wendell
Style:Lapsang Souchong
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
97
6 Ratings

Browse All Taiwanese Teas (239)

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