Located at the border of Zhushan Township, Nantou County and Gukeng Township, Yunlin County, Fanzitian is the largest and highest-quality tea-producing mountain in the ShanLinXi region. The primary tea cultivar is Qingxin Oolong, along with small quantities of Tieguanyin, Yingxiang, and JinXuan. The leaves are predominantly made into lightly fermented oolong, alongside black tea, green tea, heavily fermented oolong, roasted tea, and white tea.
Characteristics and Advantages of Fanzitian Tea Production
Situated at altitudes between 800 and 1,600 meters, Fanzitian tea plantations boast advantages such as high yield, numerous young plantations, diverse tea cultivars, and affordable pricing. Historically covered in bamboo forests, Fanzitian began large-scale tea production around 2010, emerging as a newer tea district. The greatest advantage of a new tea district lies in its young tea bushes, which possess stronger nutrient absorption and a higher chance of producing excellent tea compared to older bushes. Spanning over 100 hectares, Fanzitian’s large output combined with lower brand recognition compared to LongFengXia and Yangzaiwan keeps tea prices accessible, offering high cost-performance for both tea merchants and consumers.
Read more: Introduction to the Fanzitian Tea District
Market Prices for Fanzitian Tea
- Altitude 1,400–1,600m: Spring and winter lightly fermented oolong ranges from NT$1,300 to NT$2,200 per 600 g; summer and autumn teas range from NT$700 to NT$1,200 per 600 g.
- Altitude 800–1,400m: Spring and winter teas range from NT$1,200 to NT$1,800 per 600 g; summer and autumn teas range from NT$700 to NT$1,100 per 600 g.
- Tieguanyin commands higher prices, while newer cultivars like JinXuan and Yingxiang are more reasonably priced.
Liao Chang Xing's Review of Fanzitian Tea
Fanzitian tea receives an overall rating of 70 points, with top-tier batches reaching up to 75 points. As the largest production area within the ShanLinXi tea region, Fanzitian features a high concentration of young tea bushes. Visiting a few different tea factories makes it quite easy to find exceptional tea here. Because it isn’t as widely known, Fanzitian tea is priced NT$300 to NT$400 lower than LongFengXia tea of the same elevation and quality, offering a distinct price advantage.
There are three tea factories here with commendable standards, utilizing soybean meal and compound fertilizers to craft tea quality that rivals LongFengXia. However, a few factories fall short on quality, and lagging sales often force them into price wars.