Tea Lover Question: Dayuling tea and Lishan tea are two of Taiwan’s most famous high-mountain teas. What are the differences between them? Which one tastes better, and which should I buy?
Key Differences Between Dayuling Tea and Lishan Tea
| Dayuling Tea | Lishan Tea | |
| Origin | KM 100 to KM 103 of the Central Cross-Island Highway | KM 68 to KM 90 of the Central Cross-Island Highway, Provincial Highway 7A, HuaGung, and Cuiluan |
| Elevation | 2,100–2,400 meters | 1,450–2,500 meters |
| Tea Garden Management | Consistently high standard | Consistently high standard |
| Yield | Only 3 tea gardens, under 2,400 kg per season | Over 60,000 kg per season |
| Retail Price | NT$7,000–NT$12,000 | NT$2,800–NT$4,500 |
What's the difference? Which one tastes better?
The biggest differences between the two teas are price and yield. Dayuling tea generally averages between NT$7,000 and NT$12,000. Lishan tea, excluding Fushoushan Farm, typically ranges from NT$2,800 to NT$4,500. Dayuling tea commands a higher price primarily due to its scarce supply, yielding less than 2,400 kg per season. The limited supply naturally drives up the cost.
Which tea tastes better? Both growing regions are geographically close, so they share a remarkably similar high-mountain aroma and character. Ultimately, quality comes down to tea garden management and the weather during harvest.
Which one should I buy?
As for which one we recommend? Here at Liao Chang Xing, we believe that “Dayuling tea naturally holds the advantage in terms of average scores.” However, Lishan tea offers a much larger harvest of over 60,000 kg per season, giving you an even better chance of discovering an absolute standout, exceptional batch when carefully selected—not to mention that Lishan tea offers better value for money. Unless you are really eager to try Dayuling for its reputation, we generally recommend Lishan Tea instead.