[Reported by Campus Reporter Kuo Yu-Hsuan]

The “Tea-Finding in the Time of COVID: Savoring Food and Tea” lecture series, hosted by the Taipei Tea Trail Project and co-organized by the General Education Center, held its seventh session on November 3. Titled “An Introduction to Pouchong Tea and the Story of Friendly Farming,” the session featured Mr. Chan Cheng-Te, owner of New Feng You Tea, who shared insights on Pinglin Pouchong Tea and his experience promoting eco-friendly tea cultivation. Law professor Ho Lai-Chieh served as the session's moderator, encouraging students and faculty to explore tea culture and even try tea farming firsthand.

Professor Ho noted that although tea is a common sight in today’s beverage shops, true appreciation of tea comes from brewing it yourself—being able to see the leaves and smell the aroma. With 30 to 40 years of personal tea-drinking experience, he emphasized that those who grow and make tea themselves have a deeper understanding of its quality. The goal of this lecture series is to help students and faculty learn more about the tea industry and, hopefully, inspire young people to bring creativity and new energy into the field.

Mr. Chan, a native of Pinglin—one of the main production regions for Pouchong Tea—is the fifth-generation successor of New Feng You Tea and chairman of the Pinglin Youth Tea Development Association. He shared that the brand was originally named “New Feng Tea Shop,” but he felt that “tea shop” sounded too commercial. “Most of our visitors come not just to buy tea—they come as friends,” he said. Hence the name “You Tea,” which conveys friendliness. Mr. Chan has managed the business for about five years and received the top prize in the 2020 Pinglin Wen-Shan Pouchong Tea Manufacturing Skills Competition.

Mr. Chan explained that Pouchong Tea is known for its delicate aroma and smooth texture. When tasting it, one should slow down to experience the evolving fragrance and the gentle flow across the palate. He added that Pouchong Tea production takes up to 24 hours—a particularly grueling stage for tea farmers. During peak season, farmers often sleep just three to four hours per night for two straight weeks.

In his second year back in the tea business, Mr. Chan began exploring eco-friendly farming. He recalled the frustration of trying to restore an overgrown abandoned tea field. The effort required to clear weeds and prepare the land was immense, ultimately forcing him to give up the leased field. However, after NCCU launched the “50+1 Tea Culture Revival Project” last year, he began collaborating with the university and officially adopted eco-friendly farming practices. “It feels more meaningful to work on our family’s own tea fields,” he remarked.

In addition to managing New Feng You Tea, Mr. Chan also chairs the Pinglin Youth Tea Development Association, which was founded about three years ago. The association's goal is to create a peer group of young tea farmers for mutual learning and communication, translating technical jargon into language everyone can understand. They also participate in cultural markets and pop-up events. “We hope to bring tea beyond Pinglin and help more people experience the joy of tea,” he said.

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Original Source: NCCU Campus News