It's not just the park that has fast dragons (Pokémon)! Have you tried the "three classic old-style black teas" of Beitou?

▲ (From left) Mingquan Lemon Black Tea, Tsai Yuan Yi Pearl Black Tea, and Gao Ji Carefree Tea each have their own unique charm.

Text and photos by Nine-Five’s Furious Wife

Thanks to Pokémon GO, Beitou Park has become a hotspot for monster hunting in northern Taiwan. Whenever legendary creatures like Dragonite or Snorlax appear, it even triggers an "animal migration" spectacle. But if you're tired from catching monsters or hatching eggs, many local Beitou residents will surely say, "Go grab a cup of black tea!"

▲ A map of black tea spots in Beitou. (Photo sourced from Google Maps)

Within a 15-minute walk from the Beitou Xinbeitou MRT Station, there are three well-established black tea drink shops: Tsai Yuan Yi, Gao Ji Tea House, and Mingquan Black Tea. Each offers its own vintage flavor and has its loyal following. Both Gao Ji and Tsai Yuan Yi even serve retro-style bagged drinks. After walking around in the heat and catching monsters until your hands ache, taking a sip really quenches your thirst and cools you down instantly.

▲ The main branch of Tsai Yuan Yi, located in the bustling market street of Beitou.

【Tsai Yuan Yi】
Established in 1966, Tsai Yuan Yi has branches in both Beitou and Shilin. The one closest to Beitou Park is the Guangming branch on Guangming Road, where you can still see many players lining up to buy tea late at night. The main store is located in the bustling market street, and its red-framed golden signboard adds to its nostalgic vibe.
The black tea here is rich and sweet, but unlike typical old-style black teas with strong cassia seed or malt flavors, it has a subtle brown sugar aroma instead. There are plenty of options in-store: besides basic black and green teas, they also offer choices like star fruit juice and hand-shaken milk tea. Unfortunately, the tapioca pearls we bought that day were too hard and had a poor chewy texture.

▲ The Tsai Yuan Yi branch on Guangming Road, which is closer to Beitou Park.

Address: No. 15, Xinshi Road, Beitou District, Taipei City (main branch), No. 146-2, Guangming Road, Beitou District, Taipei City (Guangming branch)
Business hours: until 22:30 or 23:00, depending on the branch
Reference prices: small black tea NT$15, large pearl milk tea NT$50

▲ The storefront of Mingquan may be small, but it still has many loyal customers.

【Local Flavor Black Tea in Beitou (Mingquan)】
Although the shop isn’t very big, it’s clean and bright—beloved by many long-time Beitou locals. It’s also not far from Beitou Park. The square white metal ice chest at the entrance brings back a sense of nostalgia. Due to its location, it’s affectionately nicknamed “the one on the slope” by many locals.
Many people especially love the grass jelly series drinks at Mingquan. Trying the lemon black tea ordered by other customers, it has a solid sweet-and-sour lemon taste, almost like drinking “lemon herb jelly without the herb jelly,” paired with a faint tea fragrance that’s very refreshing. Though it looks simple, the shop’s drinks range in price from NT$15 to NT$110, showing the owner’s confidence.

▲ Tea drinks based on black tea, green tea, winter melon, and grass jelly.

Address: No. 129, Guangming Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Reference prices: small sour plum black tea NT$20, extra-large grass jelly milk honey NT$80

▲ Gao Ji Tea House, tucked away inside the market.

【Gao Ji Tea House】
Compared to other shops, Gao Ji is farther from Beitou Park and hidden within a building in the Beitou Market, making it easy for travelers to overlook. But its affordable prices and vintage flavors still attract a large fan base.
The shopfront is adorned with various signs of different sizes, adding to Gao Ji Tea House’s sense of history and local charm. They serve black tea, coffee, and hand-shaken beverages. Among them, the “Carefree Tea”—a blend of oolong and green tea—not only has a unique name but also tastes smooth and not overly sweet. The shop also offers milk teas made with local fresh milk, and even mulberry-flavored milk tea available in April and May.

▲ The constantly hand-written and updated signs show the shop’s sense of history and friendliness.

Address: No. 30, Xinshi Street, Beitou District, Taipei City, inside the Beitou Market
Business hours: 07:00–22:00
Reference prices: large Carefree Tea NT$20, four-square milk tea NT$40