A Complete Guide to Taiwan Green Tea

Taiwan green tea is mostly known as Biluochun. The variety is grown in the Shanlinxi area of Taiwan and is considered the only true green tea to the island. However, there are some tea farmers that have experimented with other types of tea leaves to create additional varieties.

Types of Taiwan Green Tea

There are 3 main types of green tea in Taiwan:

• Biluochun
• Longjing
• Bachuan

Taiwan Biluochun – The Most Popular Taiwanese Green Tea

Among the green teas in Taiwan, Biluochun takes the lead in production, popularity, and taste. Cultivated in the Sanxia District of New Taipei City, its leaves are slender, curved and produce a delightful sweetness. Taiwanese Biluochun is harvested yearly during the Spring and Summer months provided there are no hurricanes or draughts. There is virtually no grass taste to this tea, and it is closer to an aroma of a very sweet Oolong.

Taiwan Longjing Tea

Taiwan’s Longjing tea stands apart from its mainland counterpart, with different tea tree varieties contributing to its unique taste. Grown in the Three Gorges area of New Taipei City, Taiwan Longjing boasts a clear, yellow-green hue and a delicate aroma. Production for Taiwanese Longjing is extremely limited and in recent years most farmers or producers export the tea to Japan.

Bachuan Green Tea

Compared to Biluochun, Bachuan green tea offers a mellower and more fragrant experience, enriched with the essence of jasmine flowers. As a scented tea, Bachuan stands as a distinctive choice among green teas, attracting a dedicated group of enthusiasts. However, most tea farmers consider Jasmine tea in Taiwan its own category that is nestled between Green and Oolong. Bachuan production is also highly lim

Production Origins

Taiwan’s tea industry first produced green tea before shifting focus to black and oolong varieties. While Oolong and Baozhong teas gained traction as early as the Qing Dynasty and flourished during Japanese colonial rule, green tea exports remained minimal until 1919.

During the Japanese colonial era, green tea exports briefly peaked at 280,000 kilograms in 1933 but were overshadowed by the dominance of oolong, Baozhong, and black tea. So why didn’t Taiwanese green tea thrive?

Taiwan prioritized partially fermented teas, and large-scale green tea production remained out of reach due to a lack of private-sector technology. Additionally, the Japanese government, aiming to protect its domestic green tea industry, actively suppressed Taiwan’s green tea development in favor of black tea.

Despite these challenges, green tea still carved out a role in Taiwanese production. In 1919, Longjing tea from the Three Gorges area became Taiwan’s first green tea export. Small batches of Japanese-style sencha were also produced for Japanese residents in Taiwan, while lower-grade teas were sold to China’s northeastern provinces.

Biluochun, originally from the Dongting Mountains in Jiangsu, China, is celebrated for its exquisite aroma and flavor. Its production in Taiwan gained popularity in the mid-to-late 1900s.

Where to Find Quality Green Tea from Taiwan?

Consumers need to find a reputable producer or distributor that has production in Sanxia. Tea growing areas in Sanxia are limited since this area is small compared to other tea growing regions in Taiwan, yet alone larger green tea areas in Asia. We here at Qiful Life do have access to such connections and sell award winning Taiwanese green teas here.