A Seed from Assam, 1925
The story begins in 1925, when Japan's colonial government brought Assam large-leaf tea seeds from India and planted them in the hills of Yuchi, Nantou. Researchers discovered that Yuchi's terroir — 600–800 meters elevation, average temperature around 20 °C, abundant rain, and morning mist — closely mirrors Assam's conditions. Tea flourished here.
By 1936 the Japanese had established the Yuchi Tea Research Station, and the black tea produced earned high praise on international markets, exporting to Britain and Japan.
Glory and Decline
The 1950s–1970s were the golden age of Sun Moon Lake tea. Nearly every household in Yuchi grew and processed tea; it was one of Taiwan's top agricultural exports. My grandfather started Baiyucha Tea Garden during this era.
Then in the 1980s, crashing global tea prices, rising labor costs, and a domestic shift toward oolong and green tea devastated the industry. Tea plantations shrank from thousands of hectares to a few hundred. My father nearly gave up the garden.
Ruby Black Tea No. 18 — The Game Changer
After decades of quiet work, the Yuchi Tea Research Station released Tai Cha No. 18 "Ruby" in 1999. A cross between Burmese large-leaf tea and wild Taiwanese mountain tea, Ruby possesses a flavor found nowhere else on Earth: natural mint and cinnamon notes layered over a smooth, sweet red-tea base.
Ruby won international awards and was hailed as the finest black tea in Taiwan, reigniting the entire Sun Moon Lake tea industry.
Hongyu No. 21 — A Second Star
In 2008, the station introduced Tai Cha No. 21 "Hongyu", a cross of Indian Kyang and Keemun teas, offering distinctive pomelo blossom and honey aromas. Different from Ruby but equally world-class, it broadened Sun Moon Lake's flavor profile.
Modern Revival
Ruby's success sparked a renaissance. Abandoned gardens were replanted, young farmers returned, and boutique tea estates like Assam Forest and Hohocha opened their doors. Today many farmers practice organic and natural farming. A catty (600 g) of premium Ruby fetches NT$2,000–5,000; top grades exceed NT$8,000.
Baiyucha Tea Garden — Three Generations
Our story mirrors the arc of Sun Moon Lake tea itself. Grandfather started planting in the 1960s. Father held on through the darkest years. When Ruby arrived, we were among the first to grow it.
Today, Baiyucha Tea Garden insists on hand-picking and sun-withering, producing small batches with care. A good cup of tea, like this hundred-year story, takes patience — from boom to silence to revival. Come stay with us and let me pour you a cup of that story.