It's not just about the beauty of tung blossoms—experience a "tea" light travel journey in Hakka villages!

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin, Taipei

When thinking of traveling to Hakka villages, the first thought might be the tung blossom season, where flowers bloom white like snowflakes. But Hakka tea is the best reason to make travelers stay longer. From “Oriental Beauty Tea,” “pounded tea,” to “kumquat tea,” these are all distinctive teas rich in Hakka cultural charm.


▲Hakka tea, rich in cultural meaning, is an industrial feature of Taiwan’s Provincial Highway No. 3 area. (Photo provided by the Council for Hakka Affairs)

Recognizing that these “treasures” should be discovered by more travelers, the Council for Hakka Affairs has packaged tea plantations, tea restaurants, tea homestays, and other tea-related industries in the Taoyuan-Zhushan-Miaoli area along Taiwan’s Provincial Highway No. 3 into a “tea light travel” experience. Huang Lü-wan, a specialist from the Industrial Economics Division of the Council for Hakka Affairs, said that over the past two years, the council has actively guided service providers in 15 townships and cities to better accommodate travelers. The goal is to combine the tea industry with tourism and sightseeing, forming a new Hakka-themed tourism corridor.

%Nai Gutan Zhu Ti You... (Text continues...) (Source: Provided by the Council for Hakka Affairs)

Along the Provincial Highway No. 3, the biggest highlight is the theme of “tea.” From the delicate and prized Oriental Beauty Tea, to “pounded tea” that carries warm and intimate cultural memories, or “kumquat tea” that highlights the Hakka people’s frugal and hardworking character—this unique tea culture has now matured into a region well-prepared to welcome tourists. The Council for Hakka Affairs has planned both one-day and two-day travel routes, covering famous Hakka villages such as Touwu, Sanwan, Nanzhuang, Tongluo, and Beibu.