Sun Moon Lake Black Tea

Taiwanese tea is predominantly oolong (green) tea, but a small number of counties also produce black tea. Nantou County’s Sun Moon Lake Black Tea is one of the more well-known types of black tea in Taiwan.

The development of black tea in Taiwan started relatively late—in 1920, when large-leaf tea trees were introduced from Assam, India. They were initially planted in areas such as Puli, Shuili, and Yuchi, where it was later discovered that the black tea produced had very high quality.

By the 1940s, Taiwan’s black tea exports had reached over 7,000 tons. However, due to various factors, the tea-growing regions in this area declined. It wasn’t until 1977 that Nantou County Government consolidated the tea regions of Puli, Shuili, and Yuchi, marketing the tea under names such as “Sun Moon Lake Black Tea,” which helped establish its reputation.

Taiwanese Sun Moon Lake Black Tea is produced through withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying. Made from carefully selected tender tea leaves and refined through processing, the tea leaves are robust, the liquor is rich red in color, and it offers a sweet aftertaste with a mellow flavor.