Roots: Two Centuries of Taiwan Tea Culture

The first tea plants arrived in Taiwan during the Qing dynasty, carried by Fujianese settlers who planted them across northern Taiwan's hills. Over two centuries, these seedlings became the foundation of a uniquely Taiwanese tea culture. From the Japanese-era push for export-quality black tea, to the post-war development of high-mountain oolongs, to today's craft-focused single-origin teas — each chapter built on the last. This article traces that 200-year arc, from migration to modern terroir.