An urban sanctuary: fine tea hidden in the mountains of Linkou, New Taipei

With land development, Linkou District in New Taipei City has gradually become a large metropolitan area, but behind the prosperity, hidden sanctuaries unknown to many still remain. Next to the Linkou Golf Course is Luoyun Tea Farm, which has operated locally for more than 60 years and specializes in making the local specialty tea "Longshou tea." Longshou tea has a golden, mellow liquor and a full aroma, and its production is scarce, so those who like it should seize the chance to come to this hidden sanctuary and taste it fresh.

Luoyun Tea Farm currently has about 0.3 hectares under tea cultivation. Luo Qian, the owner of the tea farm and also the head of the Linkou tea production and marketing group, said that before his military service in his early years, he learned tea-making at his maternal grandfather's Chengchun tea factory. At that time, the tea factory could produce 6,000 jin of tea leaves a year, all exported to Morocco. After he was discharged from the military in the 65th year of the Republic of China, the business shifted to selling fresh tea leaves to tea shops in Linkou. It was not until the 76th year of the Republic of China that he began retailing in Taiwan under his own "Luoyun Tea Farm" brand, and he has done so for 30 years. At present, Luoyun Tea Farm mainly sells Longshou tea, aged tea and honey-scented black tea, so those who want to buy should act quickly. But he also sighed and said that in the 1960s tea gardens were everywhere in Linkou, and now after land development there are not many tea gardens left. He is also getting older and works very hard, but he still wants to preserve the good flavor in his memory for young people to taste, and he hopes to pass on the tea farm left by his maternal grandfather, so even the packaging has continued to be used for more than 30 years without change.

The Agriculture Department of New Taipei City said that in order to improve tea production technology in New Taipei City and sustainably pass on the precious tea-making techniques of the old tea districts, it cooperates with local farmers' associations during each tea production season to hold evaluations and competitions, and strengthens implementation of the "tea clearing plan" to safeguard New Taipei's fine tea for consumers, so that everyone can drink it with peace of mind and local tea farmers are also encouraged.