Siblings in Seventh Grade Unite: Tianmei Tea Garden in Pinglin Keeps Its Legacy Alive

Siblings Weng Yiping and Weng Zhiyuan may be young, but their tea-tasting skills and tea-making techniques are anything but amateur. (Photo credit: Ye Shuhong)

The “Tianmei Tea Garden” in Pinglin, New Taipei City, has been passed down through four generations. The family’s ancestors settled in the area during the Japanese colonial period to engage in tea farming, marking a century-long legacy. The fourth-generation inheritors, siblings Weng Yiping and Weng Zhiyuan, both born in the 1980s (seventh grade of education), are young yet highly skilled in both tea tasting and production. In 2017, Weng Yiping won second prize at the “New Taipei City Tea Production Skills Competition,” defeating many seasoned professionals. Together, the pair combines their strengths to promote their family tea business.

Weng Yiping and Weng Zhiyuan are a rare sight in Pinglin as a “sibling tea master duo.” Weng Yiping, born in 1975, majored in design at university, while Weng Zhiyuan, born in 1977, is a highly accomplished graduate student in mechanical engineering. Unwilling to see their father toil in tea farming year after year, and wishing to continue the “family craft,” the two returned to their hometown to join the family business after graduating in 2012 and 2015, respectively. The siblings explained that their family environment is one of freedom and respect, and their parents never explicitly asked them to come back. However, seeing their parents’ hard work during each harvest season further solidified their decision to return.

Under the meticulous guidance of their father, Weng Yongtian, the siblings have now become fully capable tea producers. Weng Yiping even stood out at last year’s municipal tea production competition, earning unanimous praise from judges and securing second prize. Weng Zhiyuan also “stuck to the schedule,” actively participating in various advanced training courses such as tea production technician certifications and sensory tea evaluation. Today, Tianmei Tea Garden covers a cultivation area of about 2 hectares, producing approximately 2,500 jin (1,250 kg) of tea annually. In addition to Pinglin Wenshan Baozhong tea, the garden is actively developing specialty teas such as white tea, honey-flavored black tea, Oriental Beauty, and Biluochun, all of which are well received by consumers.

Wang Chengyi, chairman of the Pinglin District Farmers' Association, said that the second generation in agriculture tends to be more creative and proactive. Weng Yiping even integrated her academic knowledge with practical experience to design her own business cards. The association, from a supportive standpoint, encourages young people to return to their hometowns and take over the family business, using fresh perspectives to help upgrade the industry and inject new energy.

The Agriculture Bureau stated that to enable local young farmers to learn from one another and grow, the bureau and the farmers’ association jointly established the “Pinglin Youth Tea Industry Development Association.” Through the association, various workshops and exchange activities are organized. When peers gather together, they not only inspire and grow mutually, but also make the path of farming less lonely. Good tea also needs the support of the public. By choosing “New Taipei Quality Tea,” not only are you making a safe purchase, but you’re also encouraging these “new-generation tea masters.”