Tea from Taiwan excelled against competitors from around the world at “The Leafies” international tea awards in London earlier this month, winning more accolades than any other country.
The Leafies is an annual tea award co-organized by Fortnum & Mason department store and the UK Tea Academy (UKTA).
Taiwan won eight Gold awards and 10 “Highly Commended” designations across six categories — four for tea production and two for retail.
Photo courtesy of Lu Yu Estate via CNA
The biggest winner was Lu Yu Estate from Hualien County, which won the Gold and “Best of Black” awards with its Golden Dew tea.
Black tea is the most common brew around the world and is highly competitive. The Leafies divided the awards into six regions: Taiwan, China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka and others. Although there were multiple winners for Gold and Highly Commended awards, only one Best of Black was given out, with Lu Yu taking the crown.
FormoCha also won a Gold award in black tea production for its Royal Laurel Class Black Tea-241.
“Traditionally, I always knew Taiwan [had] the best of oolong teas. But I’m seeing more and more Taiwanese black teas compete with the best teas we have in India,” Indian judge Kurush Bharuch said.
Bharuch compared the quality and flavor notes of Taiwan’s black teas to that of Darjeeling, one of the world’s most renowned black tea production regions in India, and said that the nation’s black tea production could soon see international appeal.
FormoCha founder Chang Chia-chi (張家齊) attended the event to receive two recognitions.
Chang said that FormoCha shares its Gold award with EVA Air, as the winning tea was created specifically for the airline’s business class passengers.
One of the reasons FormoCha attended The Leafies this year was to encourage the youth to return to the countryside and work in the industry by winning an international accolade, Chang said.
An infusion of young blood into the industry would further strengthen Taiwan’s tea culture, he said.
Taiwan’s tea industry is facing challenges such as an aging workforce and a labor shortage, Chang said, adding that the industry also needs to adopt more creative marketing strategies.
Taiwanese teas also won accolades in three other categories.
FormoCha and Bajia Tea Factory received Gold awards in the “Oolong Heavily Oxidised” category with their Sika deer Oolong and Oolong teas respectively, while Wang Family Tea won Gold in the “Oolong Lightly Oxidised” category for its Dragon’s Breath tea.
Bajia also won a Gold award in the “White Natural” category with its White Tea.
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