TAIWANESE TEA

Why Choose Taiwanese Tea?

Taiwanese tea is still relatively undiscovered in the UK, especially when it comes to high quality loose leaf tea. In Taiwan, tea is treated with great care and respect, forming an important part of daily life and culture. With a wide variety of teas available, it’s enjoyed throughout the day, whether brewed hot or served cold.

In comparison, tea culture in the UK is often simpler and more routine. Once you begin exploring the range of Taiwanese teas, from delicate floral oolongs to deeper, more complex styles, it can completely change how you experience tea. Many people find it hard to return to standard black tea once they’ve discovered the depth and character that loose leaf tea can offer.

Taiwan’s unique growing conditions play a key role in this quality. The island’s tropical and subtropical climate, combined with high mountain regions and mist-covered tea gardens, creates ideal conditions for cultivating exceptional tea. Alongside this, careful harvesting and traditional processing methods ensure each tea retains its distinctive flavour and character.

If you would like to learn more about Taiwanese tea, how it is produced and the different types available, you can read our Taiwanese Tea Guide.

Our Approach to Loose Leaf Taiwanese Tea

At WayChá, sourcing loose leaf Taiwanese tea is about more than just flavour. We spend time in Taiwan each year visiting tea farms, speaking with local producers and tasting teas to understand where they come from and how they are made.

It’s not a simple process. From walking through mist-covered mountain tea gardens to sitting down with farmers to taste different harvests, every step helps us learn what makes each tea unique. This allows us to carefully select teas that truly reflect their origin, craftsmanship and character.

From light, floral oolongs to deeper roasted styles, each tea is shaped by its environment, the season it is picked and the skill of the producer. By experiencing this firsthand, we aim to bring back teas that offer more than just flavour, but a connection to the place they come from.

Our goal is to share a small part of Taiwan’s tea culture here in the UK, helping you explore authentic loose leaf Taiwanese tea in a more meaningful way.

If you would like to see how we find and select our teas, you can learn how we source tea in Taiwan.

Brewing Loose Leaf Taiwanese Tea

Brewing loose leaf Taiwanese tea can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be. For everyday brewing in the UK, it can be as straightforward as adding loose tea leaves to an infuser or teapot, pouring over hot or just off-the-boil water, and letting the leaves steep to your preferred strength.

There’s no strict rule to follow. Some people enjoy a lighter, more delicate cup, while others prefer a stronger, fuller flavour. Finding the right balance of tea, water temperature and steeping time comes down to personal preference and a bit of experimentation.

In Taiwan, tea is often prepared in a more ceremonial way, using traditional methods such as a gaiwan or small teapots with multiple short infusions. These techniques can enhance the experience and bring out different layers of flavour, but they are not essential to enjoy a great cup of tea.

You can start simple and, over time, explore different brewing styles if you’d like to get more out of your tea.

If you’re new to loose leaf tea, you can also read our full Loose Leaf Tea Brewing Guide for more tips on brewing and choosing the right tea infuser.