Located in Cih-huei Village, Ren’ai Township, Nantou, the HuaGung tea region sits at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 2,520 meters. Because of this extreme altitude, the tea plants grow slowly, making HuaGung the smallest-yielding region under the Lishan tea classification. Thanks to its supreme elevation advantage, HuaGung tea commands the highest price among all Lishan teas. Notably, HuaGung is currently the highest-altitude tea-producing region in Taiwan.
Table of Contents
HuaGung Tea Region: 1,800 to 2,520 Meters Elevation
The HuaGung tea region starts from around 1,800 meters near the Cih-luan Taiwan Christian Presbyterian Church, with its highest point at the HuaGung Water Source tea plantation reaching 2,520 meters. The tea gardens are mainly distributed across Upper HuaGung (HuaGung Ding), District 4, and District 5.
Upper HuaGung has only five tea gardens in production, sitting at elevations between 2,300 and 2,520 meters. Spring yields max out at around 3,600 kg, with winter yields about half that, and wholesale prices ranging from NT$4,000 to NT$8,000. Aside from Upper HuaGung, the tea gardens in District 4 and District 5 are located between 1,800 and 2,200 meters, with wholesale prices hovering around NT$2,000 to NT$3,000.
HuaGung Tea Prices and Production
Although there are numerous tea factories in the HuaGung area, most primarily process leaves sourced from Cihluantel, Diaoqiaotou, Lishan, and even New Jiayang. Local HuaGung tea production is extremely scarce, so be sure to double-check the tea’s origin before purchasing.
When it comes to HuaGung tea prices, don’t expect anything too cheap—especially for Upper HuaGung teas, which generally retail for over NT$8,000. While the teas from Districts 4 and 5 are slightly lower in price, they’re hardly budget-friendly either, with retail prices still running around NT$3,000 to NT$4,000.
HuaGung Tea Region FAQ
Is there a huge difference in quality between HuaGung tea and Cihluantel tea?
Although Cihluantel, Diaoqiaotou, and Malieba are noticeably lower in elevation than HuaGung, the difference in quality isn’t massive—yet the price gap is astronomical. A decent Cihluantel retails for around NT$3,000; if you can’t taste the difference, there’s no need to spend over NT$10,000 on HuaGung tea.
Why is authentic HuaGung tea so expensive?
Production is extremely limited, and since HuaGung is currently the highest-altitude tea region in all of Taiwan, it’s heavily sought after in the high-mountain tea market, driving prices way up.
How do I get to the HuaGung tea region?
From Lishan, take Fushou Rd straight ahead, pass Fushoushan Farm, and drive for another 15 minutes. Coming from the Cingjing side via Lixing Industrial Road takes you all the way to the end; it’s a much longer drive with rough road conditions. We recommend coming via Lishan and setting your GPS for the HuaGung Police Station.