Dual-City Tea Processing Competition Launches: New Taipei Farmers Aim to Extend National Champion Legacy

The 115th New Taipei City and Taipei City Tea Processing Technology Competition commenced today (30th), with New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan visiting Wenshan Farm in the evening to encourage participants. He urged tea farmers to embody New Taipei’s championship spirit and demonstrate their expertise in the upcoming national competition, striving to uphold the city’s top honor.

New Taipei City is Northern Taiwan’s largest tea-producing region, and its Pouchong tea enjoys the prestigious title of 'Taiwan’s Most Aromatic Specialty Tea.' To select representatives for the National Tea Processing Competition, the New Taipei City Farmers’ Association hosted the '115th New Taipei and Taipei City Tea Processing Technology Competition,' bringing together 48 elite tea farmers from tea-growing regions across both cities. Participants ranged from 23-year-old recent graduates to octogenarian tea masters, including multiple past winners of national tea competitions.

Competitors used identical tea leaves and processing environments, working non-stop over a 36-hour period to complete intricate steps including withering, pan-firing, rolling, drying, and stem removal. The competition tested not only the artisans’ precise control over temperature, humidity, and leaf conditions, but also their physical endurance, stamina, and ability to adapt under pressure.

Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan highlighted that New Taipei tea farmers have secured 13 championships in the National Tea Processing Competition—the highest number nationwide. This legacy of craftsmanship has produced high-quality teas that have recently earned top honors at international benchmarks, including Japan’s 'World Green Tea Contest,' France’s 'World Tea Championship,' Belgium’s 'Superior Taste Award,' and the UK’s 'Great Taste Award.'

To drive innovation in the tea industry and align with global consumer markets, Liu announced the inaugural '2026 International Premium Tea Awards (GTEA),' launching this year. Using a star-rating system, GTEA establishes a Taiwan-led tea evaluation standard, attracting 445 entries from 12 countries. By proactively initiating technical exchanges, the initiative aims to elevate Taiwan’s voice in the global tea arena. Liu expressed hope that New Taipei’s premium teas will continue to shine domestically and internationally, supported by intergenerational knowledge transfer, assistance for young farmers returning to rural areas to build brands, and technical guidance to farmers’ associations in 'instant tea beverage' processing—ensuring sustainable development of New Taipei’s tea industry.

Lin Chan-chih, Chairman of the New Taipei City Farmers’ Association, emphasized that Pouchong tea is renowned for its rich floral aroma, particularly notes of orchid and jasmine—the more intense the fragrance, the higher the quality. Perfect for beating the summer heat, cold-brewed Pouchong tea preserves its refreshing aroma. Simply use a ratio of 1 gram of tea leaves per 100 milliliters of water, shake in a room-temperature bottled drink, and refrigerate overnight. The resulting cold brew is a refreshing delight. Lin recommended purchasing high-quality New Taipei tea products from the 'Ching-Chen Food Hall' online store operated by the New Taipei City Farmers’ Association. For more event details, visit the 'New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau: Jia Ri Shi Guang' Facebook page.