Drought and Low Rainfall Hurt Winter Tea, Yet Nantou High-Mountain Winter Tea Quality Rises Instead of Falling

 

 

The results of the "Taiwan High-Mountain Tea King" winter evaluation competition in Ren'ai Township, Nantou County, were released today, with Yuxiang Tea Industry taking the Grand Prize; the award ceremony will be held on the 12th at the Yuanxiang Station. This year, due to the dry climate and low rainfall, the overall quality of high-mountain tea was not as good as in previous years, but because the weather during tea-making was dry and stable, roasting techniques could be used to compensate and improve it, so the quality of this year's competition tea rose instead of falling.

 

 

The Ren'ai Township Farmers' Association pointed out that the Taiwan High-Mountain Tea King winter evaluation competition focuses on high-mountain light-aroma oolong tea. However, because there were no typhoons this summer and rainfall after the start of autumn was also insufficient, the drought also affected production conditions. This year's winter tea output was reduced by at least 30% compared with last year, but there were still 611 entries. After 3 days of strict judging, the elimination rate was 41.6%.

 

Huang Zhengzong, a judge of the Taiwan High-Mountain Tea King competition and director of the Yuchi Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station, said that this year's climate was dry with little rain; being too dry caused the tea leaves' moisture content to be insufficient, and when the tea plants were fertilized, the fertilizer absorption rate was poor due to insufficient water. Therefore, this year's tea leaves were inferior to those of previous years, and the tea liquor tasted lighter, but the overall level rose instead of falling because of the tea-making environment and techniques.

 

Huang mentioned that although the raw tea leaves were not as good as in previous years, the weather was dry and warm, which was very suitable for tea-making. Whether indoors or outdoors, withering results were better. With a suitable environment combined with tea-making techniques, the overall level of the competition tea samples actually improved, and the tea liquor's aroma, sweetness and smoothness were good, which is why the elimination rate fell from nearly 50% in the past to 40%.

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The Ren'ai Farmers' Association stated that after the judging panel's final selection, this year's Grand Prize was taken by Xu Caisheng of Yuxiang Tea Industry. The first to sixth places in the top prize category were, in order, Ding Shida, Ji Xiuyi of Wencheng Tea Warehouse, Jipinxiang Company, Qingzhi Tea Factory, and Lin Weizheng of Chunyi Tea Factory. In addition, there were 10 head awards, 79 gold awards and 262 merit awards, and awards will be presented on the 12th at the association's Yuanxiang Station.