Grandma’s traditional old-time tea shop — Taiwanese teas & fresh milk teas “without ice”

Text & photos byShadow

When nearby beverage shops keep innovating and overwhelming us with new options, there are still people around us quietly selling drinks that carry the authentic taste of Taiwan. Walking down a quiet street in search of the legendary Yuanfang Tea Shop, I finally spotted a small shining signboard — only to realize it was a very traditional tea shop. The elderly grandma who runs both the tea shop and beverage stall has been in the business for over 30 years. She opened the tea shop back then to better take care of her children, and also started a beverage stall using her own recipes. Decades have flown by, and now she runs it together with her daughter.

We were surprised to see such an old-school tea shop setup still in existence. Grandma told us that when she first started the tea shop, she didn’t really understand much about tea leaves and even got scammed. Later, she met a mentor who took her up to the mountains to grow tea and get to know the leaves, which gradually helped her learn about Taiwanese tea.

As traditional tea shops have declined, beverages have become the main focus of the shop.Sun Moon Lake andAlishanteas from Taiwan are used — no imported teas, artificial flavorings, or preservatives. The teas are freshly brewed every day, even the water used is filtered through multiple stages, and the sugar syrup is boiled using Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s cane sugar. Truly, the older generation does things more honestly.

Grandma’s drinks are served without ice, keeping the original flavors intact and chilled in bottles.

Signature fresh milk tea: NT$40/small cup (left), NT$60/large cup (right)

The fresh milk tea is the shop’s signature drink, made with Sun Moon Lake black tea and high-quality fresh milk in just the right proportion. For the small cup, one bottle of fresh milk is used, while the large cup uses 1.5 bottles. The milk tea is made with genuine ingredients — you can clearly taste both the tea and the milk, though Shadow found it a bit on the sweeter side.

The small cup of milk tea contains a whole bottle of fresh milk — the flavor is rich and full-bodied.

Herbal tea: NT$40/large cup

Thinking herbal tea would taste bitter, it actually had a sweet aftertaste — perfect for cooling down in summer. Grandma offers so many kinds of drinks — like the roselle tea that my husband likes, which is pleasantly sweet and tangy; and the unsweetened high-mountain green tea, which is smooth, fragrant, and not astringent — both are highly recommended.

Fresh milk tea: NT$110/bottle, High-mountain green tea: NT$75/bottle

Aside from drinks served in cups, bottled drinks are also available. Regular customers who are used to Grandma’s drinks often buy a whole bottle to take home and enjoy.

Grandma’s drinks have kept the same recipe all these years. The beverages are brewed with genuine ingredients, resulting in rich flavors — which is why the prices are slightly higher than those of other shops. But knowing what goes into your drink makes it worth it. No matter how the world changes, Grandma sticks to her own path. Even after more than 30 years, with low visibility, every drink she sells is made with integrity. Her spirit shows us the backbone and resilience of early Taiwanese businesspeople.

It’s undeniable that the number of people drinking traditional “elderly tea” is rapidly declining, and tea shops may vanish in the next generation, lost in the tides of history. But Grandma has found a way to let more people know the quality of Taiwanese tea, while sticking to traditional brewing methods. We’re lucky to be able to taste these authentic old-style drinks. Not many people may know about this shop, but we hope to document Grandma’s story. If you enjoy traditional old-style tea drinks, do give Grandma’s beverages a try — you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.

Yuanfang Tea Shop
Address: No. 35, Guangming St., Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-2511969
Business Hours: 8:00–21:00

Kaohsiung Food Adventure Blog　Kaohsiung Gourmet Enthusiasts FB Fan Page