cuisine on Tamsui Mountain
Sister Ah San is a born-and-bred native of Tamsui who has grown tea in this mountain forest for generations. Later, the tea garden was abandoned and was left on its own. Brother Ah San was originally an office employee working in a publishing media, but later changed his career to be a farmer. He planted yams on the land, and continued to establish Asungo Farm.
Introduction
The tea trees that had been abandoned for many years now grow healthily and naturally. They began to restore the tea trees that grew before in this mountain forest and harvested the tea seeds. At present, about 20 hectares of the area has been restored, and Asungo Farm encompasses an area of 1.5 hectares. Sister Ah San says that the use of tea seed oil in the dishes is a culinary feature of the farm. There are no menus here, the menu comes from the soil of the farmers nearby. The dishes brought out from the kitchen and placed on the dining table by Sister Ah San are the most seasonal vegetables!
The tea seeds that are harvested are dried under the sun for nearly a week and then shelled before they can be pressed for oil. Four catties of tea seeds can only produce a 500cc can worth of tea seed oil. The shells from the tea seeds are not wasted either, and are returned to the vegetable garden planted by Sister Ah San as compost. The residue after oil pressing is superb for oily and greasy cleaning.
The tea seeds that are harvested are dried under the sun for nearly a week and then shelled before they can be pressed for oil. Four catties of tea seeds can only produce a 500cc can worth of tea seed oil. The shells from the tea seeds are not wasted either, and are returned to the vegetable garden planted by Sister Ah San as compost. The residue after oil pressing is superb for oily and greasy cleaning.
Features of Agricultural Tourism
Tea
The black tea produced by Hugosum Tea Garden using Japanese tea-making technology can be prepared differently according to its variety. In addition to the unique Yingluo black tea, ruby black tea and emerald black tea, Hugosum Tea Garden also contains Assam black tea, Hongyu black tea and Hongyun tea. Hand-painted drawings are used to introduce the origin of tea tree varieties, designed into fashionable Goodies bags so that the youth can join the ranks of tea making and drinking. There are also creative desserts such as QQ Ruby Chocolate and Black Tea Biscuits.
The tea harvest season starts from April to November. During this period there is a half-day tea tour where tourists can not only get to know the history of black tea, but also pick the tea leaves so they can make black tea in their own homes. This fun activity attracts many foreign tourists. In addition, there are tea-making experiences, and hand-made black tea blessing DIY experiences. Food is provided in the orchard. Here you can not only sample muffins made of black tea, basque cakes, dried tofu, and black tea cat’s claw cakes, but also drink the aesthetically-pleasing “6 flavors”, a taste of 6 black tea flavors in one go.
