Taiwanese tea farmers in Hualien once again clinched top honors at the 2024 Great Taste Awards in the UK. The Hualien County government announced that Yuyu Manor in Chike Mountain, Yuli Town, and Lin Junjie Tea Garden in Liushishan, Fuli Township, have collectively received three-star accolades for their tea products.
Hualien County Magistrate Xu Zhenwei expressed that achieving a one-star rating at the Great Taste Awards is a commendable feat, with only about 25% of entries receiving this recognition each year. The top-tier three-star awards are even more exclusive, given to just the top 2% of entries. Hualien has secured three three-star awards this year, with two other Hualien tea farmers receiving two-star and one-star awards. This achievement showcases Hualien as an excellent tea-producing region, thanks to its unique climate nourished by the Pacific Ocean, creating the perfect environment for distinctively high-quality teas like Hualien’s fragrant black tea and other varieties, crafted with exceptional tea-making techniques.
The Hualien County government emphasized the historic significance of the Great Taste Awards, often dubbed the Oscars of the food industry. Organized by the Guild of Fine Food in the UK, the awards are considered a globally respected, representative, and influential food appraisal organization. The judging panel comprises members from international culinary assessment institutions, professional chefs, nutritionists, scholars, food critics, and more, evaluating entries based on criteria such as the first impression, aroma, visual appeal, taste, aftertaste, and absence of additives.
The County government further stated that winners of the Great Taste Awards must pass through a discerning panel of judges consisting of chefs, food suppliers, food writers, and retailers, ensuring the selection of award-winning products using a fair and objective mechanism, making the Great Taste Stars a prestigious and recognized symbol within the food industry.
Xu Zhenwei praised the unique sweetness and rich layers of Hualien’s fragrant black tea, describing it as exceptionally delicious. Hualien tea farmers actively participated in international assessment competitions this year, with Yuyu Manor from Chike Mountain winning three stars for its “Summer Splendor Fragrant Black Tea,” while Lin Junjie Tea Garden in Liushishan received three stars for both “Green Elegance Fragrant Black Tea (Fruit Fragrance)” and “Green Elegance Fragrant Black Tea (Flower Fragrance),” along with two two-star awards and one one-star award for other products. Moreover, local tea farmer Xiao Wenlong from Liushishan was awarded one star for his Yinxin Oolong tea (Long An tea), and tea farmer Liu Fangzhu from Fuli Agricultural Farm earned a two-star award for the Limei Oolong.
According to the Great Taste Awards’ evaluation of Yuyu Manor’s “Summer Splendor Fragrant Black Tea,” it was described as a tea with distinct layers, honey undertones, and outstanding floral notes at 40°C. As for Lin Junjie Tea Garden’s “Green Elegance Fragrant Black Tea (Fruit Fragrance),” the comments highlighted its excellent tea quality, luster, bright tea soup upon brewing, fruity passion fruit flavor, and a subtle hint of honey aroma.
Lin Junjie expressed his immense gratitude for once again receiving the prestigious three-star recognition, seeing it as a significant affirmation and encouragement. His dedication to promoting Hualien’s tinted tea products as representatives of world-class tea aims to bring the tea from his hometown in Fuli to the international stage, a joint goal he tirelessly pursues with local tea artisans.
Chen Qihong, a tea farmer from Chike Mountain in Yuli, shared that both he and his wife put their hearts and souls into crafting tea, working tirelessly. In July, his wife Lin Yaqing won a gold medal at the Hualien County-level evaluation for fragrant black tea. Following this success, they were delighted to secure the highest accolade of a three-star award at the Great Taste Awards, showcasing their efforts to produce excellent tea recognized globally. Such achievements have brought them immense joy and satisfaction, further demonstrating the stability of their tea products and the international recognition of Chike Mountain’s fragrant black tea in Alisoso.
Xu Zhenwei conveyed gratitude to the tea farmers for their dedication to developing Hualien’s tea industry and actively participating in various assessment competitions. The County government pledges ongoing support to foster the development of Hualien’s tea industry, boosting the visibility and competitiveness of Hualien tea products. Not only does Hualien’s fragrant black tea serve as a prime representative of Taiwanese tea, but its diverse tea creations continue to shine brightly among internationally renowned tea products.