2017 TOST - Visit HGT and have a professional cupping on Lishan Oolong

After a good night rest, on 10/24/2017 #2017TOST is heading back North. Our first stop is HGT.
Thanks to our good friend, Johnny Tu and his team for a well prepared set up for our members to have a very thorough study on Lishan Oolongs also some specialty teas that HGT has made.
The terroir of Lishan tea, the craftsmanship... and HGT has set a very high standard for quality control from farm to table.
I have to say this is indeed a great treat to our TOST friends!
And our TOST friends also show their appreciation with extremely hard efforts to enjoy this special study.
Boy, how lucky Josephine and I to work with these good tea enthusiasts, visitors and our farmers and makers...

 

 

2017 TOST - Tao-Chu-Miao Tea District

Tao-Chu-Miao used to be Taiwan's largest tea district...along the Tai3Route's hills and terraces, so many beautiful tea gardens had been converted into golf courses and industrial parks... #2017TOST travels to Shakeng, Henshan on 10/24/2017 to visit Norman Shu and one of the biggest tea factories back in 60s and 70s, Sha Keng Tea Manufactory. (*Per Norman, there are many projects on going now... and #2018TOST might expect to have surprises !)
Norman gave our members a quick tour in his factory... and rushing us over to the tea garden before dark... 

Boy, that is a beautiful tea garden alright, with a pond and bamboo bushes where so many white egrets nesting by and flying around to guard the tea plants... There are many Taiwan Incense Cedars (肖楠) grown into small forest, and we can imagine some tea bushes inside the forest might carry unique aroma and special note...

 

 

2017 TOST - Visit Fu Yuan Tea Factory

After SKT, we stop by another big old tea factory in Tao-Chu-Miao tea district.  Fu Yuan is still doing crude tea processing, and also they have their DIY program for visitors when off season.