About an hour north of Taitung City, the tea gardens of Luye Township's highland spread up gentle slopes at 300 to 400 meters elevation. In 2008, the Taitung Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station developed a completely original variety called "Red Oolong" — a heavily fermented tea positioned between oolong and black tea, with an amber-orange liquor and a rich, mellow sweetness. It is Taitung's most representative tea. Take a sip: warm, with a lingering sweetness and no astringency — quite unlike any typical oolong.
What is Red Oolong?
Red Oolong is a tea variety developed in 2008 at Luye by the Taitung Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station under the Ministry of Agriculture — combining oolong processing with black tea fermentation concepts. The production process uses heavy fermentation (approximately 70–85% oxidation) followed by the ball-rolling step of oolong processing. The result is a liquor that looks like black tea — amber-orange in the cup — while the dried leaves retain the balled shape of an oolong. The flavor sits between oolong and black tea: the fruity aftertaste of oolong combined with the full-bodied sweetness of black tea, with good re-brew endurance and no astringency. Suitable both hot and cold.
Why Luye? Luye Township's highland terraces sit at approximately 300–400 meters elevation, facing the Pacific Ocean with large diurnal temperature swings and well-drained soil — Taitung's primary tea-growing zone. The Taitung Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station is based in Luye, where it has long developed local tea varieties; Red Oolong was born here. It should be noted that Red Oolong techniques have since spread to other tea-growing regions of Taiwan — Luye is not the exclusive producer — but as the birthplace, Luye has the deepest brand identity and tea culture, and its representative status is unmatched.
How to taste it the authentic way
Local knowledge
Verified sources (sponsored content filtered)
- Ministry of Agriculture: Red Oolong was developed by the Taitung Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station and launched in Luye in 2008; the name comes from the amber-orange color of the brewed liquor.
- Luye Township is the birthplace of Red Oolong, but the technique has since spread to other tea-growing regions — Luye is not the exclusive producer.
- Luye Highland sits at 300–400 meters elevation and is Taitung's primary tea zone, with the Tea Research and Extension Station maintaining a permanent presence for research and development.
Practical tips
- Red Oolong prices range from a few hundred to several thousand NT dollars per jin. For a first taste, a mid-range option around NT$600–1,200 is a good starting point.
- Packaging labeled "Red Oolong" does not guarantee Luye origin. Look for marks endorsed by the farmers' association or the Tea Research and Extension Station for greater assurance.
- During the Luye Hot Air Balloon Carnival in July and August the area is extremely crowded. Visit the tea zone on a weekday outside that period for a more relaxed experience.
Data compiled from the Taitung County Government Department of Transportation and Tourism Development, township and village farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews. Sponsored listings have been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.