Taiwan Tea Show
Introduction
Generally speaking, tea refers to young buds and leaves plucked from tea plants, processed and finally brewed for consumption. There are many chemical components in tea, such as caffeine, vitamins, tannin and catechins etc. Tea has been an important daily drink to Chinese people for a long time. The Chinese people are used to drinking tea if they fell thirsty. Drinking tea would make people fell pleasant because of its unique aroma, flavor and taste. Tea has been reported to have refreshing, calming and health benefits. Production and Marketing
Currently, there are about 20,000 ha of tea farms in Taiwan, producing about 20,000 tons of tea in every year, mainly distributing in Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Nantou, ChiaI, Yunlin, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Hualien and Ilan counties. The tea industry in Taiwan was export-oriented in the past. Tea exports reached a high record of 23,516 tons. Tea exports were on the decline over the years. Tea exports were 2,592 tons in 2002. The sustainable increase of domestic consumption is due to economic prosperity and the rising level of living standards as well as to the increasing consumption. Though tea farms are diminishing gradually, the qualities of Taiwan tea are highly appreciated by domestic and international markets. Carrying tea as a gift when traveling abroad is very popular.
The types of teas produced in Taiwan include green tea, Paochong tea, Oolong tea and black tea. In order to meet consumers’ demands, major types of teas produced currently in Taiwan are Paochong tea and Oolong tea. Black tea and green tea are minor types. R & D of Tea Technology
The administrations responsible for tea improvement are at the central level, the Council of Agriculture (COA) and at the local level, the city and county governments, the township office and the farmers' association. The Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES) was set up especially for conducting experimental and extension work on tea breeding, cultivation, mechanization, management, manufacturing skill and multiple products. The Yuchih Branch was established at Yuchih, Nantou. It's responsible for the development of the production and marketing associated with medium & high altitude tea gardens and black tea in central Taiwan. The Wunshen Branch was established at Shihding, Taipei. It's responsible for the improvement of Paochong tea in northern part of Taiwan. The Taitung Branch was established at Luyeh, Taitung. It's responsible for the tea development in east Taiwan. The Tungding Branch was established at Luku, Nantou, responsible for the R & D of Tungding Oolong tea in middle part of Taiwan. Many tea cultivars are extended and grown in Taiwan. Each cultivar has its unique agronomic characteristics and qualities for manufacturing different aroma and flavor of teas. There are five types of tea cultivars that are suitable for manufacturing green tea, Paochong and Oolong teas, Pomfong tea, Tieh-Kuan-Yin tea, and black tea. The commonly cultivated or high-quality tea cultivars are Chin - Shin - Oolong, Chin-Shin-dahpan, TTES No.12 (Chinhsuan), TTES No.13 (Tzuiyu) and Shy-Jih-Chue etc.
To help the public understand that the security of tea farms can be maintained under reasonable cultivation and usage, and to educate tea farmers to use correct cultivation, and to emphasize soil and water conservation, the TRES has also gauged and established a slopeland conservation demonstration tea farm, providing a place for teaching and demonstrating tea soil and water conservation.
In order to provide consumers healthy tea drinks and protect the natural ecology and environment, organic farming has been promoted and adopted in many tea fields recently. That's a tea field that avoids using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic fertilizers are used in the tea field for tea growing. Non-pesticide controls are used on pests and diseases of tea plants, especially that of biological control methods. The research, development and extension of TRES mainly focus on developing related organic technology.