From a single tea leaf, a cup of bubble tea and a bowl of douhua to the lights of the night market — sail six stops along Taiwan's coast to meet its flavors and people, and see how a Taiwanese food company carries them to the world.
Along Taiwan's coastline — setting off from the tea hills and finally sailing from the harbor to the world.
Brand Philosophy
Tang Sugar Brand Philosophy: Taiwanese Food and Taiwanese Service, Bringing the Flavors of Taiwan to the World
From the Formosa Oolong that sailed to New York in 1869 to bubble tea loved around the globe, Taiwan has long been sending great flavors to the world. Tang Sugar (Caitang International) is a Taiwanese company proud of the food Taiwanese people make and the service they provide. With consistent ingredient quality, clear partnership terms and verifiable supply capability, we…
It introduces Taiwan's tea, bubble tea, night-market food, fruit and sugar, everyday life and Made in Taiwan, and shows how Tang Sugar brings these flavors and Taiwanese service to partners around the world.
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Taiwan Stories covers culture, origins and Taiwan through foreign eyes; the blog covers drink recipes, ingredient dosage and sourcing. The two link to each other, so you can go from a story to a recipe.
What Is High Mountain Tea? Taiwanese Oolong Grown Above 1,000 Meters — Alishan, Lishan and Shanlinxi Teas and How to Brew Them
Key answer
What is high mountain tea? According to training materials from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Tea and Beverage Research Station, high mountain oolong is tea grown and made in gardens above 1,000 meters; it is a partially oxidized (semi-oxidized), ball-rolled oolong, not a green tea. Taiwan’s best-known high mountain regions are Lishan (about 1,800–2,500 m), Alishan and Shanlinxi, and the main cultivar is Qingxin oolong. Frequent mist and wide day-night temperature swings make the tea grow slowly, giving it a clear aroma and sweet taste. Tang Sugar supplies Taiwanese oolong, Four Seasons Spring and other commercial teas, bringing the aroma of Taiwan’s mountains to the world.
Taiwanese tea in the clouds
Two-thirds of Taiwan is mountainous, with the Central Range and Alishan Range stretching down the island. High up, mist swirls, sunlight is shorter and mornings and evenings are cool, so tea bushes grow slowly with thick leaves rich in aroma compounds — the source of Taiwanese high mountain tea’s distinctive fragrance. For many foreign visitors, a cup of high mountain oolong is their most direct memory of Taiwan’s mountains (further reading: Taiwanese tea culture).
The definition: above 1,000 meters
Elevation: the Tea and Beverage Research Station’s materials define high mountain oolong as tea from gardens above 1,000 meters.
Tea type: partially oxidized (semi-oxidized), a light, fragrant ball-rolled oolong that is cloth-rolled during processing and then lightly roasted.
Cultivars: mainly Qingxin oolong, plus Jin Xuan and others.
Note: “high mountain tea” is sometimes used as a marketing term, so check the origin label; Chiayi County has also introduced an anti-counterfeiting label for Alishan high mountain tea.
Taiwan’s three great high mountain tea regions
Region
Location
Highlights
Lishan
Heping District, Taichung
About 1,800–2,500 m, mainly Qingxin oolong, elegant aroma
Alishan
Alishan Township, Chiayi
Gardens span a wide range of elevations; Qingxin oolong and Jin Xuan
Shanlinxi
Zhushan, Nantou
A later-developed high-altitude region
How to brew high mountain tea
Use water just off the boil and fill about a quarter of the pot with leaves; steep the first infusion for about 50–60 seconds and a little longer each time after. The rolled leaves slowly unfurl and can be infused many times. High mountain tea is also great cold-brewed: put the leaves in cold water and refrigerate for 6–8 hours for a sweeter, cleaner taste (further reading: black tea, oolong and green tea compared).
Tang Sugar: bringing the aroma of Taiwan’s mountains to the world
Taiwanese tea farmers grow tea in the clouds and process it through the night — a craftsmanship Taiwanese people are deeply proud of. Caitang International Co., Ltd. (brand name Tang Sugar) brings Taiwanese tea flavors to drink shops overseas:
This article belongs to Stop 1, Taiwanese Tea, of the Taiwan Stories series. Series opener: Tang Sugar brand philosophy.
FAQ
Is high mountain tea a green tea?
No. High mountain tea is mostly partially oxidized, ball-rolled oolong, part of the oolong family; green tea is unoxidized.
How high does a garden need to be for high mountain tea?
According to the Tea and Beverage Research Station, high mountain oolong comes from gardens above 1,000 meters.
What is 高山茶 in English?
高山茶 is high mountain tea; Taiwanese high mountain oolong is often written Taiwan high mountain oolong or gaoshan oolong.
How do Lishan and Alishan teas differ?
Both are high mountain oolongs. Lishan is higher and its aroma is often described as elegant; Alishan spans a wider area with more varied flavors, though it ultimately depends on the garden and processing.
Can drink shops use high mountain tea?
Yes, but it’s costly, so most drink shops use commercial oolong and Four Seasons Spring, choosing according to their menu positioning.
