Many tea friends have asked why we didn’t buy any Dayuling tea this year. Here is the short answer from the store manager: “We couldn’t find one we truly love” and “the price is exorbitant.” After much consideration, we decided not to purchase any this season. We’d also like to take this opportunity to share the current state of the Dayuling tea region.
Is there still Dayuling tea? Yes, but in very small quantities!
As everyone knows, many Dayuling tea gardens have been reclaimed by the Forestry Bureau. Since 2014, tea plantations have been steadily downsized, and by 2015, they were slashed to less than a tenth of their original size.
To the best of the manager’s knowledge, there are only three tea gardens left producing tea above the 100K mark: the 100K, 101K, and 103K plots. Estimated seasonal yields are: under 600 kg for the 100K garden; about 600 kg for the 101K garden; and an estimated under 900 kg for the 103K garden (though I haven’t visited in a while). Across all three gardens, the total yield is less than 3,000 kg per season.
3,000 kg might sound like a lot to some of you, but in reality, it’s barely a drop in the bucket. Not only are Taiwanese tea lovers fighting over it, but buyers from China and Hong Kong are also snapping it up. According to the manager’s sources, a huge portion of Dayuling tea is bought up by mainland buyers even before harvest, leaving very little to actually make it into the cups of people in Taiwan.
What’s more, the yields from these three gardens are expected to shrink further. Whether the tea bushes will eventually be completely cut down is anyone’s guess, but the Forestry Bureau has required red cypress, ginkgo, and other trees to be planted among the tea plants. With the trees blocking the sunlight, the tea yield is bound to drop year after year, and prices will inevitably climb even higher.
Coming back to my first point: this year’s Dayuling tea has that signature mountain character, but the aroma and aftertaste just aren’t quite up to par, which is why we didn’t buy it. Every year, many tea friends eagerly wait for Dayuling tea, and not having any to sell is quite a headache for us as well. We can only hope the quality rebounds by the winter harvest.
Dayuling Tea: FAQs and Gossips
Does a certain XX tea merchant own a stake in the Dayuling tea gardens?
To the manager’s knowledge, these three tea gardens belong to tea farmers surnamed Chen (Note: there are three farmers at the 100K garden, primarily Boss Chen), Yang, and Wu, and no other tea merchants hold shares in them. However, certain merchants do reserve a fixed amount of the harvest each year.
How high is the elevation of these three tea gardens?
The highest point of the 100K garden exceeds 2,300 meters; the 101K sits at around 2,300 meters; and the 103K should be around 2,350 meters. These were measured using a mobile phone GPS, so they might not be exact, but you can use them as a general reference.
Can I get the contact info for the tea farmers?
I wouldn’t dare publish it casually without their permission. However, Boss Chen at the 100K garden has a storefront right next to the tea garden, and his phone number can be found on Google Maps as public information. Google Maps Link. (Note: Our shop assumes no endorsement responsibility whatsoever)
Is it true that Dayuling tea costs NT$1,200 per 600 g?
False.
At which kilometer mark does the Dayuling tea region begin?
The traditional Dayuling tea region starts at the 100K mark and ends at the 105.5K mark. The 100K mark is where the Rongxing Police Station is located.
Can't find the tea gardens at Dayuling 100K?
It’s right on the slope behind the police station. Also, in recent years, the mileage markers on the Central Cross-Island Highway have been shortened by 2-3 km, so the old 100K is now at the 97K mark. We recommend navigating directly to Rongxing Police Station for the easiest route.