Exploring Taiwan’s Tea Mountains: A Guide to the Island’s Finest Growing Regions:
if you’ve got a few days to spare after touching down in Taipei, Consider a short excursion out to one of the many tea growing areas of Taiwan. Taipei is a Taipei is an amazing city, but the Taiwan interior has some incredible rural aesthetic charm.
Oolong Tea Growing Areas Of Taiwan:
Taiwan, a mountainous subtropical island tucked off the southeastern coast of China, is a paradise for tea lovers, if you know where to look! With mist-covered peaks, dramatic elevation changes, and a rich heritage of artisanal craftsmanship, Taiwan produces some of the most refined and aromatic oolong teas in the world. This guide explores the key tea-growing regions—each with its own signature terroir, flavor profile, and story.
Pictured: Ali Shan Oolong Tea
1. Alishan (阿里山)
Location: Chiayi County
Elevation: 1,000–1,600 meters
Pictured: Ali Shan Mountainous Tea Growing Areas
Alishan is one of Taiwan’s most renowned tea-producing regions, and for good reason. The high elevation, cool climate, and heavy cloud cover slow down the growth of tea leaves, allowing complex sugars and aromatic compounds to develop. Alishan High Mountain Oolong is celebrated for its creamy mouthfeel, floral bouquet (orchid, osmanthus), and lingering sweetness. Harvests in spring and winter produce the finest results, with hand-plucked leaves rolled into traditional jade green oolongs.
Pictured: Li Shan Dong Ding Oolong Tea
2. Lishan (梨山)
Location: Between Taichung and Hualien
Elevation: 1,800–2,600 meters
Pictured: Li Shan mountainous Tea growing areas
Perched among the highest tea farms in Taiwan, Lishan teas are the epitome of purity and grace. The cold alpine air, rich soils, and drastic temperature swings between day and night yield leaves with an unmistakably fresh, crisp flavor. Often described as having notes of snow pear, mountain flowers, and sweet cream, Lishan oolongs are among the most sought-after—and limited—on the market.
3. Shanlinxi (杉林溪)
Location: Nantou County
Elevation: 1,200–1,800 meters
Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, Shanlinxi is a hidden gem. Nestled among dense pine forests and waterfalls, this region produces oolongs with a deep, resinous sweetness and floral richness. The teas strike a beautiful balance between texture and aroma, with buttery overtones and a long, clean finish. Ideal for those who want something a bit more robust than Alishan, but still smooth and refined.
4. Meishan (梅山) – Where Depth Meets Florality
Location: Chiayi County
Elevation: 1,000–1,200 meters
Meishan offers a slightly warmer growing environment, and its teas tend to have more body and depth. Expect pronounced florals layered over subtle stone fruits and nutty undertones. It’s an exciting region for innovation, with many farmers experimenting with cultivars and processing methods. Meishan oolong is an accessible and satisfying introduction to Taiwanese high mountain teas.
5. Shibi (石壁)
Location: Near Meishan, Central Taiwan
Elevation: ~1,300 meters
Small, often family-run farms in Shibi are known for meticulous craftsmanship. The teas are elegant and structured, often exhibiting light fruitiness, mineral depth, and a smooth, mellow finish. While not as commercially widespread, Shibi oolongs are gaining popularity with connoisseurs seeking boutique micro-lots.
6. Yushan (玉山)
Location: Central Taiwan
Elevation: 1,600–2,000+ meters
Named after Taiwan’s highest peak, Yushan teas reflect their dramatic origin. These high-altitude teas are gentle, floral, and clean. The environment—cool, damp, and shrouded in clouds—produces slow-growing leaves with concentrated aromas. Look for teas with subtle citrus blossom, fresh cream, and mountain herbs.
7. Wenshan (文山) – Home of Baozhong
Location: New Taipei City area
Elevation: 600–1,200 meters
Wenshan is famous for producing Baozhong, a lightly oxidized oolong that is twisted rather than rolled. This tea is delicate and floral—imagine gardenia, lilac, and white peach. It’s often preferred by those who enjoy green teas but want the complexity of oolong. The damp, misty microclimate is ideal for creating those ethereal top notes.
8. Hsinchu County (新竹縣) – Land of Oriental Beauty
Location: Northwestern Taiwan
This region’s warm summer weather and thriving bug population make it the ideal home for Oriental Beauty, one of Taiwan’s most unique teas. The leafhoppers that nibble on the leaves trigger a natural defense mechanism in the plant, causing the leaves to oxidize while still on the bush. The result? A honeyed, muscatel-rich oolong with spicy, fruity, and floral complexity. Hsinchu, particularly Beipu and Emei, is the traditional heartland for this spectacular tea.
9. Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) – Taiwan’s Black Tea Revival
Location: Yuchi Township, Nantou County
Elevation: 600–800 meters
Though Taiwan is famous for oolongs, Sun Moon Lake is the island’s black tea powerhouse. Here, farmers cultivate Ruby 18 (Hong Yu)—a hybrid of wild Taiwanese tea and Assamica—resulting in a rich, full-bodied black tea with hints of cinnamon, mint, and red fruits. The lake’s tropical microclimate and red soils give the tea a unique character unlike any other in Taiwan.
10. GABA Tea – A Functional Favorite from Central Taiwan
Primary Production Areas: Nantou, Lugu, Alishan, and parts of Taitung
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) tea is processed in oxygen-deprived environments to increase its GABA content, which is believed to support relaxation and mental clarity. This tea can be oolong, black, or green, and often has a tangy, fruity flavor with earthy undertones. Taiwan pioneered this method, and GABA tea remains a niche but growing category in Taiwanese tea culture.
Whether you’re sipping an elegant Lishan or a bold Ruby 18 from Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s tea-growing regions offer an astonishing variety of flavors shaped by nature and tradition. Each mountain, stream, and breeze leaves its mark on the leaf—and in your cup.
Curious to taste the difference yourself? Try building a flight of teas from various elevations and regions to experience Taiwan’s terroir in full.
Pictured: Early 2000’s Taiwan Storage Puerh Tea Cake
A Puerh side step:
Taiwan has a history of Tea appreciation going back over a century. Puerh Tea enthusiasts famously decided to embark on a journey into Yunnan To teach the locals how to process raw puerh Better which helped to increase value for the locals and quality for the Taiwanese! Taiwan is a great place to store puerh tea, Examples of which can be discovered in local tea shops.
As always, kind thanks for getting to the end of my blog. Oli