Evolution of Regional Specialty Black Tea Sector with the Development of Leisure Agriculture in Post-War Taiwan

• Main Authors: Meng-Chiao Cheng, 鄭夢皎
• Other Authors: 吳政憲
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/32639125099298869263

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 歷史學系所 === 104 === In Taiwan’s tea production areas, there exists a well-known local specialty tea sector. Most residents of the areas live largely from growing tea and develop the local tea culture mixed with natural environment and similar living tradition. With local agriculture on the decline and farmers lamenting low profits from traditional crops such as rice, the tea industry has given rural Taiwan its greatest economic boost in recent years. Many tea farms have also been gradually transformed into leisure agriculture, integrating local tourism resources and traditional culture assets. This study aims to investigate the two Taiwan''s main black tea producing areas: Sun Moon Lake Black Tea at Yuchi Township, Nantou County and Wuhe Honey Black Tea at Ruisui Township, Hualien County. The objectives of this study are to examine how the specialty black tea sector has evolved and transformed into leisure agriculture, and also to analyze the relationship of tea sector, community-based tourism and local culture for sustainable development. The tea production atYuchi Township and Ruisui Township faced the severe challenges of increasing labor costs, competition of low-priced tea from Southeast Asia, and changing consumer tastes for high mountain tea after Taiwan’s rapid economic development in 1980. Many growers at Yuchi Township had abandoned their tea plantations until the Sun Moon Lake Black Tea recovered and returned its glory after the 921 earthquake, whereas Ruisui Township promoting organic tea cultivation found a way to successfully market award-winning Wuhe Honey Black Tea. Both Sun Moon Lake Black Tea and Wuhe Honey Black Tea are considered geographical regional products. Behind their success, farmers, tea manufacturers/traders, the Tea Research and Extension Station, and local residents work closely to achieve the brand awareness and local competitive advantage. Seshui Community at Yuchi Township has become a popular site for drinking black tea, playing with pottery clay and experiencing nature beauty. The community development and landscape planning further combined natural resources with tourism resources such as home stay, local specialties cuisine, narration services for natural environments to develop leisure agriculture. With a great variety of industries and an outstanding history of culture, Wuhe at Ruisui Township has changed from a tea village to the center of leisure activities due to the promotion and assistance of various government organizations over the years. Its renowned tea sector has thoroughly integrated with the leisure and recreational businesses, providing visitors to experience rural lifeand casual rustic atmosphere.