HuaGung Tea is a renowned Taiwanese high-mountain tea produced in Cuihua Village, Ren’ai Township, Nantou. At an altitude of 1,800 to 2,520 meters, it is currently Taiwan’s highest tea-producing region. Almost all HuaGung Tea is crafted into lightly fermented oolong tea.
The Highest-Altitude HuaGung Tea
Originally, Dayuling Tea held the title of Taiwan’s highest altitude, but when some of the highest tea gardens were removed in 2015, Dayuling’s maximum altitude dropped to 2,400 meters. This naturally allowed the HuaGung Riverhead Tea Garden at 2,520 meters to take the crown as Taiwan’s highest tea-producing region. Aside from the riverhead, there are several other tea gardens in the area sitting between 2,350 and 2,450 meters, all ranking among Taiwan’s top ultra-high-altitude tea gardens.
Read more: Introduction to the HuaGung Tea Region
HuaGung Tea Pricing
As Taiwan’s highest-altitude tea region, the prices naturally aren’t cheap. Top-tier HuaGung Tea (2,350–2,520 meters) retails for close to NT$10,000 per 600 g due to its limited yield and exceptional quality, while the HuaGung Riverhead tea grown at 2,520 meters exceeds NT$10,000. Lower-altitude HuaGung Tea (1,800–2,200 meters) is relatively more accessible, with spring and winter teas running around NT$3,200 to NT$4,000 per 600 g—though “accessible” is relative.
Liao Chang Xing's Review of HuaGung Tea
Unquestionably top-quality tea. Thanks to its exceptional altitude and high-mountain environment, the leaves here are ideally suited for producing lightly-scented oolong tea, boasting an extremely high success rate for premium finished teas. The ceiling for quality is exceptionally high, making it arguably the finest high-mountain tea-producing region in all of Taiwan. A tip for consumers: Due to its limited production and high price point, there are many counterfeits on the market, so be sure to inquire thoroughly before purchasing.