Hualien's Tea Farmers Awarded Three Stars at 2024 Great Taste Awards: Hualien's Tea Shines Internationally

(中央社訊息服務20240802 11:18:18)Hualien tea farmers have once again achieved outstanding results at the 2024 Great Taste Awards in the UK. Hualien County which is located along Coastal Mountain Rage has two main tea regions: the Lu Yu Estate in Chike Mountain, Yuli Township, and the Lin Chun-chieh Tea Garden in Liushishi Mountain, Fuli Township, both receiving three stars. Additionally, Liu Fang-zhu and Xiao Wen-long, also from Liushishi Mountain, received two stars and one star respectively. County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei extended her congratulations, emphasizing that Hualien's tea industry has not only gained national recognition but is also shining internationally due to the relentless efforts of tea farmers in pursuit of excellence.

The Great Taste Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of the food industry, are organized by the Guild of Fine Food in the UK, known for its global credibility and influence. Judges, including international food critics, chefs, nutritionists, and scholars, evaluate entries based on criteria such as initial impression, aroma, visual appeal, taste, aftertaste, and the absence of additives. Magistrate Hsu stated that achieving a one-star rating at the Great Taste Awards is accomplished by only about 25% of entries annually, with three-star winners representing the top 2% of entries. This year, Hualien secured three three-star awards, including for Yuli's Chike Mountain Lu Yu Estate's "Summer Radiance Honey Fragrant Black Tea" and Fuli's Liushishi Mountain Lin Chun-chieh Tea Garden's "Green Centipede Honey Fragrant Black Tea (Floral Fruit)" and "Green Centipede Honey Fragrant Black Tea (Floral)." Liu Fang-zhu and Xiao Wen-long also received recognition with their two-star and one-star awards of Oolong Tea respectively. This once again verifies Hualien’s reputation as an excellent place for tea cultivation. The unique and beautiful growing environment of Coastal Mountains Range, enriched by Pacific moisture, contributes to the high quality of Hualien’s distinctive teas, and the exceptional tea processing techniques enhance the multi-layered flavors of Hualien's honey fragrant black tea and other tea varieties

According to the Great Taste Awards, Lu Yu Estate's "Summer Radiance Honey Fragrant Black Tea" is praised as a tea with distinct layers, featuring a honey flavor and excellent floral notes at 40°C. For Lin Chun-chieh Tea Garden's "Green Centipede Honey Fragrant Black Tea (Floral Fruit)" from Liushishi Mountain, the review notes that the tea has excellent quality, a glossy appearance, and a bright brew with flavors of passion fruit and a subtle honey aroma.

Fuli’s Liushishi Mountain tea farmer Lin Chun-chieh expressed that receiving the three-star award again is a significant affirmation and encouragement. His goal, along with local tea artisans, is to elevate Hualien's tea to become a representative of world-class premium tea and successfully promote the tea from his hometown, Fuli Township, internationally.

Yuli’s Chike Mountain tea farmer Chen Qi-hong noted that he and his wife have put great care into their tea-making process, working tirelessly. This year, his wife Lin Ya-qing won a gold medal at the Hualien County Honey Fragrant Black Tea competition in July, and soon after, their tea won the highest three-star award at the Great Taste Awards. This recognition shows that their meticulously crafted tea is being recognized globally. The continued awards affirm the consistency of their tea and confirm that Chike Mountain’s honey fragrant black tea is a globally recognized and exceptional flavor.

Magistrate Hsu expressed gratitude towards the tea farmers for their dedication to developing Hualien's tea industry and assured continued support from the county government to enhance the visibility and competitiveness of Hualien tea products. This commitment aims to position Hualien honey fragrant black tea not only as a representative of Taiwanese tea but also as a shining star among internationally renowned tea varieties.