Taiwan is famous for producing high-quality tea, and tea shops line almost every street. Have you ever wondered where boba and tea shops get the tea leaves for their drinks, which region they come from, or what varieties are used? Here’s the inside scoop on where drink shops source their tea leaves!
Where Do Drink Shops Get Their Tea? Is It Really Taiwanese Tea?
Currently, most chain tea shops in Taiwan source their tea leaves from imports, local Taiwanese farms, or a blend of both—with imported tea leaves making up the majority.
Imported Tea Leaves (Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, etc.)
To keep costs down and ensure a steady supply, drink shops most commonly use imported tea leaves—especially from Vietnam. Many of these overseas farms were established by Taiwanese tea growers who transplanted Taiwanese tea cultivars and processing techniques abroad. Thanks to lower production costs, these imported leaves make up the largest share of tea used in commercial drink shops.
Local Taiwanese Tea Leaves (Machine-Harvested, JinXuan, Four Seasons Spring)
Brands that highlight authentic “Taiwanese Tea” use genuine local leaves. However, due to budget constraints, most rely on machine-harvested teas, primarily varieties like JinXuan and Four Seasons Spring. Some higher-end tea shops do feature premium leaves like High Mountain Oolong, Baozhong, or Oriental Beauty. Because authentic Taiwanese tea commands a higher price, drinks from these brands are usually positioned in the mid-to-high price range.
Blended or Flavored Teas
Some shops use custom blends (such as mixing Vietnamese and Taiwanese tea leaves together) or add herbs and flowers to create unique herbal and floral tea infusions.
Why Don't Most Drink Shops Use 100% Taiwanese Tea?
While Taiwanese tea boasts exceptional quality, its higher cost makes it difficult to fit into the margins of a NT$20–$60 cup of tea. Furthermore, overall tea production in Taiwan is limited—in fact, premium teas like High Mountain Oolong and Oriental Beauty are often in short supply and cannot meet the massive volume demands of commercial drink chains. For these reasons, imported tea leaves remain the primary source for most tea shops.
Although imported tea generally doesn’t reach the exact quality level of locally grown Taiwanese tea, much of it still maintains a decent standard because the plant varieties and processing techniques originate from Taiwan. As for pesticide concerns, all imported tea leaves undergo strict batch-by-batch inspection upon arrival, ensuring they are safe to enjoy.