Sharing the Aesthetics of Tea
Now under the stewardship of the third generation, Yen’s Tea Garden – Dong Long Tea Company tells the story of tea culture from the perspective of the younger generation. With a background in design, their unique sense of aesthetics and taste is imbued into everything, from packaging and product selection to visual experiences.
Introduction
Nantou County’s Lugu Township is renowned as the birthplace of Dong Ding Oolong Tea, and Yen’s Tea Garden here, formerly known as Dong Long Tea Company, has perfected the artistry of tea-making since its establishment in 1974. In 2012, the reins of the business were handed over to the third generation, Yen Sheng-hsun, who has a background in design, and his wife Cho Ying-ling. Returning to their hometown, they took over the tea plantation and embraced their new role as tea farmers. Understanding the aesthetics involved in tea drinking, they eventually produced their own brand, “Yen’s Tea Garden,” in 2019, adhering to the spirit of cultivation in the mountains and learning from tea.
Apart from offering fine teas, Yen’s Tea Garden provides various tea-making and tea ceremony experiences. For tea gatherings that emphasize aesthetics, the hosts lead guests to the forest lakeside or bamboo groves, where they can enjoy tea under lush greenery. Based on the degree of fermentation, guests can have a taste of high mountain tea from Shanlinxi, Dong Ding Oolong Tea, and Maiden Red tea. Particularly popular is the Maiden Red tea, harvested from leaves of just 30 days, as opposed to the usual 50-day-old leaves. It is made solely from the tender leaves of the two leaf-per-tip variety. What makes this tea unique is its ability to exude honey, fruit, or floral aromas unpredictably, making it irresistible for both men and women.
Features of Agricultural Tourism
Tea
Explosion of Design, Tea scented Pillows win International Awards
For those who love handicrafts, there’s the opportunity to experience sewing tea-scented pillows by hand. Compared to regular pillows, the greatest advantage of tea-scented pillows lies in their faint aroma of tea leaves, which has the capability to soothe the mind. Making a tea-scented pillow by hand allows one to experience the charm of tea aroma and the wisdom of ancient people when at rest. Yen Sheng-hsun and Cho Ying-ling have always been dedicated to designing products related to tea leaves. Their “Tea Scented Pillow” has reformed the structure of the pillow core and materials, enhancing the comfort of the tea pillow. It has become a therapeutic item suitable for offices or homes and has won both the “2023 USA MUSE Design Silver Award” and the “2023 London Design Silver Award,” achieving dual international recognition.
