Walk into one of Dadaocheng's old tea houses on Chongqing North Road and the deep, roasted scent of tea hits you at the door. Jars of Wenshan Pouchong, Dong Ding Oolong, and Oriental Beauty stack floor to ceiling behind glass; an old master brews a pot from whatever you choose and invites you to taste. This street in Taipei's Datong District is a concentrated expression of a century of tea fragrance — what they sell here is not just tea leaves, but a piece of Taiwan's tea history.
What are Dadaocheng Century Tea Houses
From the late 19th century onward, Dadaocheng emerged as Taiwan's primary export hub for tea, carried by trade along the Danshui River. Tea houses clustered along what is now Chongqing North Road, Dihua Street, and Bao'an Street. "Century tea house" refers to shops that have passed through multiple generations and still carry out in-house refining or charcoal-roasting — primarily selling Taiwan's own Pouchong, Oolong, and Oriental Beauty, with some stocking pu-erh and flower teas. What they offer goes beyond leaves: an intact tradition of selecting, roasting, and appreciating tea.
Lin Hua Tai Tea House was founded in 1883 according to its official website, and in 2016 its shophouse was registered as a Taipei City Historic Building — one of the oldest tea houses in Dadaocheng. Youji Famous Tea was founded in 1890 and is currently the only tea house in Dadaocheng that still maintains a charcoal-roasting bamboo-basket room; the roasting process has been included in an official tea-trail guide by the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs. Both shops allow brief tastings and tours of the roasting area, making them the most direct entry point for understanding Dadaocheng's tea history.
How to appreciate it like a local
Local knowledge
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- Lin Hua Tai Tea House was officially founded in 1883 per its website; the shophouse was registered as a Taipei City Historic Building in 2016 — official recognition.
- Youji Famous Tea, founded in 1890, is the only Dadaocheng tea house retaining a charcoal-roasting bamboo-basket room, with its roasting process included in an official city tea-trail guide.
- This is a category tour. Dadaocheng has other long-established names — Wang Rui Zhen, Yao Yang, Xin Fang Chun, and others — this guide notes them without singling out any one shop.
Visiting tips
- Most tea houses operate Monday to Saturday; some close on Sundays. Check Google for current hours before setting out.
- MRT Daqiaotou or Shuanglian Station, then a 10-minute walk to the Dihua Street and Chongqing North Road tea district.
- Combine with Dihua Street's dry goods shops, Xiahai City God Temple, and Yongle Market — the scent of tea and preserved goods together is Dadaocheng's unique sensory map.
Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, the Taipei City Government Tourism website, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos are placeholders until Dio's on-site shots replace them with exclusive channel footage.