Learn Tea Making from Tea Master
1-Day Tea Experience
“A Day in the Life of a Tea Maker: 1-Day Tea Making Experience” is a full-day workshop held in Dongshan, a charming town in Yilan County located just about an hour from downtown Taipei. The program begins with picking fresh tea leaves and guides participants through the entire tea-making journey.
Throughout the day, professional tea farmers and tea makers will introduce Taiwanese tea varieties, tea plantation management, and the techniques behind crafting beautifully fragrant Taiwanese tea. Participants will have the chance to pick their own leaves, roast them by hand, and roll them using traditional methods. The workshop also includes a guided tasting of various Taiwanese teas using the same appraisal techniques employed in official competitions, accompanied by local tea and snacks.
At the end of the experience, each participant will take home a personally crafted batch of Taiwanese tea along with a commemorative cup.
All explanations and interpretation during the workshop are provided in English. For anyone interested in Taiwanese tea, this immersive program offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from tea farmers and explore the craft in depth.
Itinerary of A Day with the Tea Master
13：00 Meeting at Luodong Train Station / Luodong Bus Terminal.
13：30 Arrival at the tea plantation, and explanation of the tour itinerary.
14：00 Tea leaf picking.
14：30 Tea making (Withering ▶︎ Pan-firing ▶︎ Hand-rolling ▶︎ Drying).
15：30 Break, enjoying local hand-made tea snacks.
16：00 Taiwan tea tasting in the style of tea farmers.
17：00 End of the tour.
All explanations will be given in English.
*The above times are approximate and may vary slightly depending on the situation.
*Please contact us if you would like to adjust the time.
*The above menu items are subject to change depending on the availability of ingredients and the farm's circumstances.
*Please let us know if there are any ingredients you don't like.
※Normally we accept reservations for at least two participants. However, if you are a solo participant, you can join the tour by paying the same participation fee as for two participants.
Hua-Jian-Cha-Yu is a tea estate that has been cherished for over 60 years. Guided by the philosophy of “using as few pesticides as possible and being kind to the Earth,” the estate is also committed to protecting the Dongshan River watershed. The third-generation young tea farmer has taken over the estate, preserving the family’s traditional tea flavors while passionately creating new teas infused with floral and fruity aromas.
In addition to managing the farm, the estate participates in farmers’ markets and offers hands-on tea-making experiences, allowing visitors to feel a deep connection with the tea fields while surrounded by the delicate fragrance of flowers. With a focus on sharing the appeal of tea with younger generations, Hua-Jian-Cha-Yu aims to promote a culture that celebrates the enjoyment of tea in new and inspiring ways.
Navigator
Lin Pinchun
林品君
Born in Yilan County, Taiwan, and graduated from Osaka University’s School of Foreign Studies. After gaining experience at a major travel agency and a restaurant, later established the cooking studio “ShiangTsai” in Yilan. With the belief that “Taiwanese cuisine is far more than just xiaolongbao, and Taiwanese tea is far more than Dong Ding Oolong or High Mountain tea,” ongoing efforts have been dedicated to promoting Taiwan’s food and tea culture abroad. Holds the Class C Skill Category of Tea Manufacture Technology certification and has completed the Ministry of Agriculture’s official course for Tea Sensory Evaluation for Taiwan Teas Level 2. Experience also includes interviewing tea producers across Taiwan and contributing articles on Taiwanese tea to Asahi Shimbun Digital Magazine & Travel. Author of Taiwanese Tea Textbook: Authentic Knowledge Taught by Local Experts (Graphic-sha Publishing).
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Instructor
Li Wei & Huang Yuchen
李維＆黃羽臻
As 3rd generation tea makers at Hua-Jian-Cha-Yu (花間茶語), management of 3 hectares of tea fields includes the production of both competition-grade and organically grown tea. Consistent recognition has been earned in local tea competitions, with first place in the organic tea category awarded again in 2024, reaffirming the title of “Organic Tea King.” Award-winning craftsmanship is also found in the floral tea creations produced within the same household, with top honors received in national tea maker competitions. In recent years, a dedicated focus on floral teas has led to the development of “Yuzu Oolong,” crafted with freshly harvested pomelo blossoms from the home orchard—a product so popular that it sells out almost immediately each year.
Gather at Luodong Station / Dismiss
Meet at the station and travel by taxi. Plan your trip freely by meeting and disbanding at the destination.
No language worries
Simultaneous interpretation between English, Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese allows direct communication with producers and allows you to ask any questions you want.
food culture, tea culture
You will learn about Taiwanese tea culture by actually picking tea leaves and processing them yourself. You will also enjoy Taiwanese tea snacks.
Homemade souvenirs
You can also take home your own Taiwanese tea and a commemorative cup. Of course, you can also purchase contest teas and Taiwanese teas made by professional tea makers on-site.
台北火車站/台北車站/台北轉運站
From Taipei Main Station
There are two ways to get from Taipei Main Station to the meeting point at Luodong Train Station / Luodong Bus Terminal:
1. By Bus: It takes approximately 90 minutes, and the fare is NT$143.
2. By Train: It takes approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes, and the fare is NT$238.
捷運市政府站/市政府轉運站
From Taipei City Hall Bus Station
From Taipei City Hall MRT Station, you can take a bus to reach the meeting point at Luodong Train Station / Luodong Bus Terminal.
By Bus: It takes approximately 80 minutes, and the fare is NT$131.
By your own car
Driving By Car
We will meet at the main entrance of Luodong Train Station and then drive together to the tea plantation of Hua-Jian-Cha-Yu(花間茶語).
Luodong Train Station to Hua-Jian-Cha-Yu(花間茶語) tea plantation: Approximately 20 minutes by car.
NEAR BY ATTRACTIONS
Experience the traditional culture and agricultural products of the region
National Center for Traditional Arts
Various art forms such as traditional music, dance, crafts, and theater are showcased and performed. Additionally, there are workshops and art creation activities conducted by artists and craftsmen, providing opportunities to immerse oneself in traditional arts and culture.
Local farmers and food processors come together to cultivate, process, and sell agricultural products. They play a role in promoting sustainable agriculture and the circular economy of food. Additionally, there are restaurants and cafes that utilize locally-sourced ingredients.
Dongshan Excellent Food & Agri. Innov. Park
Visitors can observe the actual production process of rice noodles (rice vermicelli). They can also sample food and snacks made from rice noodles and purchase various rice noodle products at the factory's shop. Additionally, there are opportunities to participate in rice noodle-making experiences.
Tiger Brand Rice Noodle Factory