Drive west from the Ruisui Township Office for 10 minutes, climb up to the Wuhe Plateau, and rows of neatly trimmed tea gardens unfold before you. The plateau sits at 250 meters, with a large day-night temperature differential, and the air carries a faint tea fragrance. This is Hualien's most important tea-growing area. In 1973, then-Premier Chiang Ching-kuo visited and named the local tea "Tianhe Tea"; in recent years it has broken into international tea competitions under the name "honey-aroma black tea," making it the only Hualien tea to have won a world gold medal.
What is Wuhe Honey-Aroma Black Tea
The core of honey-aroma black tea is a tiny insect called the small green leafhopper. When tea plants are bitten by these insects, the leaves release natural defense compounds, giving the tea shoots a distinctive honey-like aroma. Tea farmers harvest these bitten shoots and process them using black tea methods — heavy withering, rolling, and fermentation — to produce a "honey-aroma black tea" with an orange-red liquor and a natural honey note on the palate. It shares its origin with Oriental Beauty (Pengfeng Tea), though fermentation levels and processing differ slightly. Wuhe Plateau honey-aroma black tea is noted for its high-mountain character and lingering sweetness: the brewed liquor is bright orange, neither astringent nor bitter, with a long, sweet finish.
Why is Wuhe the home of honey-aroma black tea? Agricultural travel resources clearly record that Wuhe has been a tea-producing area since the Japanese colonial period; in 1973 Chiang Ching-kuo's visit led to the naming of the local tea "Tianhe Tea." More recently, honey-aroma black tea won a world gold medal in 2006 and was selected as one of "Taiwan's Ten Classic Named Teas" in 2007, elevating Wuhe from a regional tea zone to an internationally recognized origin. The Ruisui Township Farmers' Association and Wuhe Scenic Tea Gardens have long supported tea farmers and visitor experiences, with strong quality and brand credibility. Provincial Highway 9 passes near the Tropic of Cancer Marker Park close to Wuhe, making the tea gardens part of a complete tourist corridor.
How to brew and drink it the authentic way
Local know-how
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- Agricultural travel resources record Wuhe as a tea-producing area since the Japanese colonial period; in 1973 Chiang Ching-kuo named the local tea "Tianhe Tea."
- Wuhe honey-aroma black tea won a world gold medal in 2006 and was selected as one of "Taiwan's Ten Classic Named Teas" in 2007.
- The Ruisui Township Farmers' Association has long supported tea farmers in the Wuhe tea zone; the association's own-brand products are considered highly reliable.
Practical tips
- Honey-aroma black tea prices range from NT$200 to NT$1,000 per 37.5 g, with the difference reflecting the proportion of leafhopper-bitten leaves and the harvest year. Taste first, then buy.
- Most Wuhe tea gardens are up on the plateau, making a car the most convenient option. Without a car, a taxi from Ruisui Train Station takes about 15 minutes.
- Summer (June–September) is the active season for the small green leafhopper; the honey-aroma black tea made during this season is the most representative — you can specifically ask for that year's summer harvest.
Data compiled from Hualien County Government Tourism Department, local township farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.