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Xu Zheng Ren

Nantou County, Taiwan

Q How long have you been growing tea?

A"50 years"

Q What got you started in the Tea industry?

A"Father Heritage."

Q Can you describe a typical day out in the field. How many hours would that be?

A"8 to 10 hours. Weeding and fertilizing."

Q What is your favorite part of growing tea? What inspires you to keep going?

A"Tea Harvesting and making the good tea and earn a good price."

Q Conversely, what is the hardest part of your job?

A"Pests."

Q How has tea farming changed over the years?

A"The use of organic fertilizers."

Q What do you think makes your tea more unique or better than others?

A"The use of organic fertilizers and quality control."

Q What makes the difference between a successful and unsuccessful harvest?

A"Doing work truly and does not dispute with other people. Really do anything a man can be successful."

Q Do you exchange growing secrets with other local farmers?

A"Yes."

Q Are there any tips you can give on how to best brew your tea?

A"When brewing the tea we must noted the quantity of the tea, brewing time ? water temperature and soaking time."

Q What is your favorite tea to drink and why?

A"Tung Ting Oolong Tea. It is very fragrant and good taste."

Q If you had any advice to give western tea drinkers, what would it be?

A"The fragrance of the Taiwan tea is presented by the fermentation of natural flavor, there is no added fragrance."

Q What does this project & contribution mean to you?

A"Instructing the good Taiwan Tea to give more preferences are."

learn more

Formosa, meaning 'beautiful island', is what Dutch traders called Taiwan. The teas grown here, mainly north of Taipei, continue to be called as such. Tea can be harvested up to six times a year here, although the high mountain teas may be only twice a year. Oolong tea had been a very important export for the island until the 1980's, when tea growers turned their focus to native oolong enthusiasts. Today, oolong tea is mainly produced for tea lovers in Taiwan, and the rarest, most prized lots are extremely difficult to find in the U.S. Tea culture is so alive and well in Taiwan, annual competitions are held amongst tea growing districts to reward the most outstanding oolongs each year. Gold medal winning oolongs are some of the most expensive in the world.

View individually wrapped teabags