► Good tea competition in New Taipei
1.The beginning
In the 1950s, Linkou tea garden is the biggest production area of tea leaves in Taiwan. There were at least 40-50 tea manufacturing factories back at that time. However, after 70 years passed, Linkou has transformed into urban area, and the land has been over developed, which is an unfavorable condition for the development of tea industry. To date there are only 4-5 tea factories, and there is no way back to the grand occasion in the old times. However, as for the farmer’s association of Linkou district, how to rebuild Linkou tea leaves’ brand and stable the development of its quality, helping the tea farmers to transform and develop more added value, or establish the new tea garden project that suits the demand of modern market are their directions at the current stage.
In 1980s, to turn the declining fate of Linkou’s tea industry, the New Taipei City government counsel local tea farmers to modify the breed, enhancing the quality and production amount of tea. The government invited the mayor to rename the Oolong tea and redesign its package. They also hold annual spring tea and winter tea competition to build brand image. The classifying system has been applied as well, classifying the quality to 4 degrees.
2.Linkou Long-Shou tea which score a success using techniques
Although compared to other high altitude tea production area in Taiwan such as Ali-mountain and the jade mountain, the natural condition in linkou is realtively weak, the tea farmers in Linkou keep adjusting their pace, scoring success with their admiring tea manufacturing techniques. In 2017, they even received the champion of the Taipei and New Taipei tea competition. These tea farmers enthusiastic in manufacturing tea roasted the famous Long-Shou tea after studying many years, cooperating with Tea research and extension station (Wen-shan), the New Taipei city government, the New Taipei city framer’s association and Linkou’s farmer association closely to keep improving the breeds and techniques.
Long-Shou tea is a kind of ball-type Pachong tea, the feature of its taste is fresh aromatic and bitter. It is aromatic, rich, and pretty. April to November is its major production season. Local tea farmers manage their tea gardens through organic farming. This way makes tea trees healthy, tea clear and cater to modern people’s care for food safety, regardless of the fact that its appearance would be compromised. There are several characteristics of Long-Shou tea, which includes its leaves and stem connected with each other, its appearance is half-ball type and dark green, it smiles good after brewing, the tea looks amber and has varied taste. It is a superior kind of semi-fermented tea. Since the major production season is spring and winter, and the production amount is low, it is not guaranteed that many tea lovers are able to buy the amount they want, sellers freeze the tea after the tea leaves completed rolling. The frozen tea is capable of preserving the fresh aroma of Long-Shou tea, and has a light after tase, which make it unexpectedly more popular.
3.Tea Evaluation Compeition
To guarantee the health of consumers and emphasize the “secure and safe” spirit of Long-Shou tea, Linkou farmer’s association invites Agriculture and Food Agency of Executive Yuan and Agriculture Bureau of New Taipei City to randomly sample the tea that participates in the competition. If it is discovered that the pesticide content has violated the rule, the person in charge would fine according to the law. The source of tea in the competition is from the local tea farmers and merchants. The evaluation is hold by experts in New Taipei City’s farmers’ association and merchants. Farmers would hand out tea leaves that has been refined. These tea leaves would be evaluated and classified by a team of judge of with abundant experience. After classification, the organizer would put stickers that represent the competition on the packages, and notify the farmers to bring them back to sell. Linkou farmer’s association will purchase part of the competition tea in order to take care of local farmers and make the price of competition tea stable. The market price of Linkou’s tea is 1000 New Taiwan Dollars per catty.
The purpose of holding tea evaluation event is to establish classifying system through the contest, stimulate the tea farmers to emphasize the management of tea gardens, improve their roasting and manufacturing techniques, and enhance the quality of tea leaves as a result. In addition, the quality of tea evaluated and classified by experts can be trust, so the consumers can by them without doubt. During the competition, judges first observe the color of tea after brewing each merchant’s tea, then smile its scent and taste it. The color of tea should be green and clear, the smile should be fresh and without impurities, and the taste should be rich, not bitter or astringent to be the best option. In the end, judges observe the appearance and shape of the tea to inspect if there is any yellow tea leaves or fractures. The examination is quite strict. The government would like to brand the Linkou Long-Shou tea as a secure product, besides checking for consumers, they also want to educate the farmers on using pesticide safely and inspect the remaining pesticide regularly, therefore enable the tea industry in Linkou to develop sustainably.
