Tea has, slowly but surely, led me to discover and appreciate some amazing tea farmers. To taste their extraordinary teas, please contact me at the following address to receive a detailed list.
Sean: produces tea on numerous small plots dotted across Taiwan. All his teas are traditionally grown and made. Let yourself be tempted by his exceptional artisanal teas, or indeed by his classic oolongs.
Mr Su in Wen Shan and Justine in Nantou produce teas in accordance with the very strict requirements of the European Union’s organic certification. These are more delicate teas with smooth, subtle aromas.
Mr Ho: grows and produces tea in the Sun and Moon Lake region of central Taiwan. His speciality is ‘Ruby Jade’, a delicate, fragrant black tea.
Ivan: lives high in the mountains. He is one of the few indigenous farmers to produce his own tea, mainly oolongs. He and his wife welcomed me as if I were a member of the family as we tasted his exceptional teas together.
Rebeca: a very special lady who produces tea entirely by hand. To spend an afternoon drinking tea with Rebeca is like entering another world. Everything on the tea table has been carefully prepared to promote a sense of harmony and well-being, a harmony also found in her teas. Her white tea and black tea are a discovery never to be forgotten.
Mr Liu, one of Taiwan’s great tea masters, produces a wide range of exceptional teas. His oolongs are rich in flavour, smooth and round, sometimes slightly roasted. He is one of the few producers in Taiwan of ‘Buddha’s Hand’. Drinking tea with Mr Liu is a must whenever I am in Taiwan – what a privilege to have met him.
Mr Liao : is my best-kept secret. His Bao zhong wakes me up every morning at breakfast. When I open the packet, all my olfactory senses tremble, anticipation fills my soul – my mind travels to the lush vegetation of the Taiwanese countryside, the awe-inspiring mountains, the bright morning sunshine and blue skies, the Pacific mists that roll across the landscape in the afternoon and the wonderful smell of tea, withering.
Tea has a wonderful way of bringing people together. Do join us for tea at discovering.teas@gmail.com
The moon, high and bright, spreads it’s beams on my terrasse
The night is young, the garden gate remained partially open.
A lamp can be seen through the trees, a visitor approaches
From the clump of bamboos smoke rises, bring the tea!
Zheng, Ban-qiao –early 18th century