April 10, 2025
Students and Teachers from Dade Vocational High School Visit Mingjian, Nantou to Experience the Charm of Taiwan’s Organic Tea Culture
A group of students and teachers from the Department of Culinary Arts at Dade Vocational High School in Changhua County visited the Phoenix Dancong Organic Tea Garden in Mingjian, Nantou today, taking part in a deep cultural journey that combined tea-making and cultural exchange. The event was led by third-generation tea farmer Mr. I-Kuo Chen, who provided professional guided tours and hands-on workshops, allowing students to understand the production process of organic tea and its value in the international market.
After taking over the family tea farm, Mr. Chen actively promoted the transformation of the plantation by launching tea culture experiences and welcoming international visitors in both English and Japanese. His efforts aim to share the aesthetic lifestyle and classic flavors of Taiwan’s tea regions with the world. Through this activity, students not only learned about the journey of tea from tree to cup, but also immersed themselves in the local culture, deeply engraving Taiwanese traditions in their hearts and enriching their future cross-cultural experiences.
The event also introduced the high quality and health benefits of organic tea, and explored its development potential in the global premium tea market. Even though Taiwan’s agriculture is dominated by smallholder farmers, focusing on product excellence enables participation in diverse sectors such as production, processing, and experience-based economies. Over the years, the Phoenix Dancong Tea Garden has successfully exported to Europe and the United States and attracts international visitors annually. The students were amazed to see how a seemingly ordinary rural tea industry could have such a broad global presence.
Organizers:
Satoyama Agro-Innovation Team｜Phoenix Dancong Organic Tea Garden｜Cincinnati Natural Dye Studio｜Satoyama Agro-Innovation Marketing Co., Ltd.｜Pingding Folk House｜Sun Moon Yu-Hsin Feng Shui and Geography Institute (Photography & Editing)
Special Thanks:
Guanjie Tea Processing Workshop for kindly providing the site for the visit