Longquan Tea

What kind of tea is Longquan Tea, one of Taiwan's top ten famous teas? Many people are curious about this. Indeed, tea from Taiwan boasts a uniquely delicate and refreshing aroma that is truly uplifting.

Longquan Tea is also known as Longtan Baozhong Tea and is a lightly semi-fermented oolong tea. It is produced in a place called Longtan Township in Taoyuan County. Longtan Township was the first area in Taiwan to promote tea cultivation, and its Longtan Baozhong Tea is considered the best in the entire country.

Longtan Township is located at the southernmost end of the Taoyuan hills and plateaus, with relatively high elevation. The terrain consists of lower layers of gravel and upper layers of red soil. This unique acidic red soil provides excellent drainage and is rich in iron. Combined with the foggy and rainy climate of the Longtan area, these conditions make it an ideal location for growing tea trees. It is precisely because of this that Longquan Tea has gained fame throughout the island and is exported overseas.

In 1983, then Provincial Governor Lee Teng-hui named Longtan Baozhong Tea as “Longquan Tea.” Longquan Tea has a bluish-green appearance with tightly rolled leaves, no stems, and a strong orchid fragrance in its dry form. Once brewed, the tea emits a richly fragrant aroma, and the liquor is clear and yellowish-green. The taste of the tea is smooth and mellow on the palate, with a strong aftertaste. It embodies the five key characteristics of “fragrance, richness, mellowness, lingering charm, and beauty,” making it one of Taiwan’s top ten famous teas.