Taiwan relies on competitions and niche status to stay relevant
Taiwanese oolong tea has found a passionate following among affluent Chinese connoisseurs who are prepared to pay huge sums for best-rated teas in local competitions. Two years ago, the year's winner was able to sell his harvest of 12 kilograms for over $200,000, which was twice the previous year's price. Therefore, competitions attract a huge audience of growers. This year's championship drew 5,729 samples of oolong tea harvested by hundreds of farmers all across the island. And winners are rewarded by higher price premiums due to a special flowery fragrance that is sought by Chinese buyers, but that does not exist in mainland China. Taiwan currently has 15,000 hectares of tea plantations and the vast majority of the crop is destined for export. A medium-priced oolong fetches $100 per kilogram over there.