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[Taiwan] Producing Area Report: Promising New "Taiwan Tea No. 25," a New Variety Bred Over 29 Years

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Uoike Tea Industry Improvement Station," which has close ties to Japan.

In September 2021, a new variety of Taiwanese tea, "Taiwan Tea No. 25," was released after 29 years of cultivation at the "Yuchih Tea Industry Improvement Station" in Nantou County, central Taiwan. Nantou County is famous for its Taiwanese tea, and Sun Moon Lake, the largest lake in Taiwan and a famous tourist destination, is the home of Taiwan Assam black tea. Taiwanese black tea has deep ties with Japan. During the Japanese colonial period, the Governor-General of Taiwan introduced the Indian Assam black tea, which was cultivated in the fertile Yuchih Basin at an altitude of 600 to 800 meters, and was highly regarded. During the Japanese colonial period, tea cultivation in Taiwan totaled approximately 45,000 hectares, and exports to Japan gradually increased.
The "Yuchi Black Tea Experiment Branch, Central Research Institute, Taiwan General Administration Office" was established in 1903 during the Japanese occupation, and was renamed "(Yuchi Branch, Tea Industry Improvement Station, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan)[https://www.tres.gov.tw/theme_data.php?theme=news&sub_ theme=hot&id=4338]" in 1968. In 2021, the 85th anniversary of the establishment, Trend Watcher visited the Yuchi Tea Improvement Station.

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The Yuchi Tea Plantation is located at an elevation of 850-1,000 meters above sea level, overlooking Sun Moon Lake, with an area of 38 hectares, an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, an annual rainfall of 2,000-2,500 mm, and soil alkalinity between 4.0-4.8, providing a suitable environment for tea plant growth and development. The Yuchih Tea Research and Extension Station has tea plantations on the slopes of the mountain, with about 30 hectares of large-leaf (Assamese) and small-leaf (Chinese) varieties planted for research and experimentation. The Yuchih Tea Research and Extension Station, which was built in 1938 and is still in use today, houses an experimental tea factory, where research and development of tea processing techniques and diversification of tea products are being conducted.

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The new variety of Taiwanese tea, "Taiwan Tea No. 25," produces 3,400-3,940 kilograms per hectare, is vigorous, drought tolerant, disease and pest resistant, and can be plucked by machine. The reddish-purple sprouts of "Tai Cha No. 25" contain anthocyanins 50 times higher than those of green tea leaves, and have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other effects. When lemon juice is added to the processed green tea, the color turns pink. According to a researcher at the Uoike Tea Research and Extension Station, the flavor is smooth and flowing, and it has the aroma of orchid flowers.

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Taicha No. 25" offers a variety of colors depending on the processing of the tea leaves.

In Taiwan, you will rarely find vending machines for drinks. Instead, drink stands can be found throughout the city, selling a wide variety of customizable drinks. According to statistics from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, 1.02 billion drinks are sold in Taiwan each year, with an average of 43.3 drinks per person consumed each year.
The "Taicha No. 25" is a special tea tree that produces reddish-purple buds, and has been cultivated since it was discovered in 1992. When processed into black tea, the color turns orange-red, and when processed into green tea, the color turns light purple. When processed into green tea and lemon juice is added, it turns pink like butterfly peas, which is expected to lead to the development of drink stand products. In addition to processing as black tea and green tea, it is also suitable for ornamental gardens and landscape cultivation. Plant variety rights are currently being applied for, after which seedlings will be propagated and tea farmers will begin cultivation and production, so that consumers will be able to purchase tea leaves as early as the end of 2023.

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Translated with AI Translator

  • TNCアジアトレンドラボ

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    TNC ASIA Trend Lab

    TNC ASIA Trend Lab is an information organization run by TNC Inc. that researches and shares trends in Asia. It supports corporate marketing activities by finding insights from trends rooted in the lifestyles and habits of local consumers.
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    Intage Inc.

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  • Jan 07, 2022
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