A tea enthusiast asked: I’m planning to visit the Zhuqi and Meishan areas soon and want to pick up some Alishan tea while I’m there. Where is the safest place to buy Alishan tea? Could you recommend a reputable tea shop with great tea and no blended leaves?
Where to Buy Alishan Tea?
If you are a beginner looking for authentic tea, we recommend checking out the Meishan Farmers’ Association or Zhuqi Farmers’ Association. What they sell is guaranteed to be authentic Alishan tea. If you’re buying gifts, you can also look for award-winning competition teas hosted by the farmers’ associations, which are evaluated by professional tea judges and guaranteed to be of top quality.
For private tea shops or tea factories, we suggest having a certain level of tea appreciation skills yourself, or going with an experienced tea lover to taste the teas. There are many tea shops in downtown Meishan Township and along the Alishan Highway where you can drop in for a tasting and buy whatever flavor you enjoy most.
3 Must-Try Alishan Tea Recommendations
If you are new to drinking tea, here are three classic Alishan teas that we highly recommend.
1. Alishan JinXuan Tea: Alishan produces some of the best JinXuan tea in all of Taiwan, especially around Ruifeng, Ruili, and Taiping. The JinXuan here is grown at high altitudes between 900 and 1,200 meters. The quality of JinXuan grown in these high-mountain tea gardens is exceptional and definitely worth a try.
2. Lightly Fermented Oolong Tea: Commonly known as Alishan High Mountain Tea, most of these are lightly fermented Oolongs. Be sure to look for Alishan High Mountain Tea made from the Qingxin Oolong cultivar, which is also the highest-yielding and most popular Alishan tea. Shizhuo, Zhangshuhu, Ruifeng, and Taihe are all fantastic production areas.
3. Small-Leaf Black Tea: Alishan also produces black tea during the summer. Unlike the familiar SunMoon Lake Black Tea, Alishan black tea is mostly made from small-leaf cultivars—specifically, Qingxin Oolong and JinXuan tea leaves. Compared to large-leaf varieties, small-leaf varieties offer a gentler, more delicate flavor profile, making them perfect for tea beginners.
Alishan Tea FAQ
Alishan Tea Shop Recommendations
Beginners are advised to check with farmers’ associations. Both the Meishan Farmers’ Association and Zhuqi Farmers’ Association sell authentic Alishan tea. For other local tea shops or factories, we recommend visiting to taste and buy only if you have a good grasp of tea evaluation skills.
What tea should I buy in Alishan?
Alishan JinXuan, high-mountain light-aroma Oolong, and small-leaf black tea are must-try varieties recommended by our store manager.
Is there black tea in Alishan?
Yes, it is usually produced in June, July, and August. Most of the local black tea is small-leaf variety, which is quite different from SunMoon Lake black tea, and you can easily find it at local tea shops.