Tea Road Escape: From Maokong to Sanxia

Your day begins with a scenic ride on the Maokong Gondola, overlooking the verdant hills south of the capital. Historically cultivated by Fujian immigrants in the 19th century, this mountainous region is the birthplace of Tieguanyin ("Goddess of Mercy in Iron"), a medium-roasted Oolong tea with fruity and woody notes.

On site, you will visit the Maokong Tea Museum before meeting a local tea master. He will reveal to you the secrets of traditional drying and roasting during a commented tasting session.

Head east next to the heart of the preserved district of Pinglin. Surrounded by pure rivers and misty reliefs, this village is inseparable from Baozhong (or Pouchong), a very lightly fermented Oolong, renowned for its floral and vegetal freshness.

The tea history of the canton is explored at the very comprehensive Pinglin Tea Museum, one of the largest in the world dedicated to this sacred leaf.

The itinerary turns west to reach the historic district of Sanxia, famous for its red brick facades from the colonial era and its craftsmanship. Sanxia is Taiwan's only region specialized in green tea production, particularly the prestigious Biluochun.

You will visit a family-run farm where the same lineage of producers has crafted tea for three generations. You will discover the meticulous work of young leaves harvested in spring and manual rolling, followed by a final tasting with sweet and vegetal notes.

To crown this exceptional day, head to the historic ceramic city of Yingge, to enter the private workshop of your Tea Master. It is here, in the intimacy of a traditional tea table, that the tasting of the finest vintages most prestigious and sought-after of the island takes place.

You will discover the excellence of very high altitude Oolongs (Gaoshan Cha) from exceptional terroirs such as Dayuling or Fushoushan, perched at over 2,500 meters altitude, renowned for their purity, their creamy texture and their crystalline floral notes.

The tasting continues with the legendary Baihao Oolong (also called Oriental Beauty), famous for its natural aromas of honey and ripe fruits born from the bite of a small leafhopper.

Finally, this privileged moment offers an opening into the world of vintage Pu-erh teas: Taiwan having become over the decades one of the world's greatest repositories and collection centers of fermented teas, this initiation allows you to understand all the richness of the preservation and aging of these exceptional cakes.

A rare and meditative pause to conclude beautifully this initiatory journey.