Customer Inquiry: “Where does the Dayuling tea region start? Besides the familiar 105K, I recently saw some people selling Dayuling 82K and 85K, claiming that Dayuling 82K is even better in quality than 100K. Is this true, and are 82K and 85K authentic Dayuling tea?”
Liao Chang Xing's Reply: Where Does the Dayuling Tea Region Start?
The starting point and range of the Dayuling tea region are very clear. From the 100K mark of the Central Cross-Island Highway (Rongxing Police Station) to the 105.5K mark is the “Dayuling tea region“, while the area from 95K to 99K is the “Biluxi tea region“. The boundaries are well-defined. However, in recent years, debates have emerged within the tea industry regarding the boundaries of the Dayuling tea region. The main reason is that the “Dayuling Tea” name holds strong appeal in the market, leading many to associate their products with it to enhance their tea’s marketability.
Regarding whether the tea produced at 82K and 85K belongs to authentic Dayuling tea, Liao Chang Xing offers a few suggestions for tea lovers.
- Geographical Location: The core production area of Dayuling tea is generally considered to be around 100K-105K, where climate and soil conditions are most ideal. 82K and 85K are relatively far from 100K. Although they are also located along the Central Cross-Island Highway, they are not traditionally defined as part of the core Dayuling tea region.
- Brand and Reputation: Some tea merchants may use the “Dayuling” name to promote their products, even if these items do not originate from the strict sense of the Dayuling core area. Consumers should carefully discern when purchasing and choose reputable merchants and brands.
- Quality: Regardless of whether the tea comes from the strict Dayuling core area, the most important aspect is the quality of the tea itself. High mountain tea quality is influenced by multiple factors, including planting altitude, climate, fertilizers, and tea garden management. Just because it is Dayuling tea does not automatically mean it is of high quality.
As an additional note, the Central Cross-Island Highway frequently undergoes renovations, re-routings, and curve-straightening projects. Mileage markers have changed over the past few decades, with another adjustment around 2018 that reduced the mileage by about 2 km. Consequently, the original 100K mark (Rongxing Police Station) has become 97.5K. However, the tea industry still tends to define the Dayuling tea region based on the old mileage markers. By the old markers, 100K to 105.5K belongs to Dayuling; by the new markers, 97.5K to 102K makes up the Dayuling tea region.