THE ORIGIN OF JIUFEN’S TEA CULTURE
Of the two dozen tea houses or so in the Jiufen area, the historic Jioufen Teahouse (also known as the “Jiufen Teahouse”—Jioufen is an alternative spelling of Jiufen) should be the first choice for anyone interested in tea culture, historic architecture or sightseeing. The tea house is situated in a beautifully renovated 100-year-old building and features two floors of indoor seating with ample natural light, an outdoor patio, and a mesmerizing outdoor octagonal tea room made entirely from glass.
The Birth of Tea Culture in Jiufen
Jioufen Teahouse was founded by Hung Chi-Sheng, a painter whose love for the mountain town’s unique ambience prompted him to invest in the area before its rise to prominence. In 1989, he bought what had been the residence of Weng Shan-Ying, the former head of the mining community in Jiufen, when it was nothing more than a cement residence. Soon, after a series of careful renovations, the building that had once served as the center for local mining operations was reintroduced to the public as the Jioufen Teahouse, and became the first tea house in Jiufen.
Tea House Architecture
Upon walking through its main door, the tea house’s intricate and complex interior architecture immediately stuns the viewer—natural light coming in through the skylight illuminates the front lobby while far in the back private tea booths filled with antique wooden furniture are hidden behind lattice windows (made from highly valued and fragrant Taiwan cypress). Wooden panels and maintain the warmth of the original construction which has now been secretly reinforced with steel.
The Octogonal Tea Room
On fair weather days, the outdoor patio offers an unbeatable view of the North Coast. While the atmosphere of an indoor table can feel like that of a private room in a speakeasy or lounge, the outdoor patio feels more like a rooftop bar which offers an exclusive view of the world underneath you.
Tea, Pottery and Painting
Hung’s devotion to the integration of culture into his business means the tea house operates according to three principles: tea, pottery and painting. The lower floor is home to the Jioufen Art Gallery which displays oil paintings by Taiwan’s local artists, as well as artisan pottery. In fact, most of the pottery used at the Jioufen Teahouse has also been made on site in the workshop below.
The Tea Experience
At the Jioufen Teahouse, tea is meant to be enjoyed slowly and over conversation. Reasonably, the tea house provides the option to bring your own leaves and only pay for the table and water, and also offers a series of classic Taiwanese snacks including tea plums, oolong-flavored cookies, oolong-flavored rice cakes, cheese cakes, seeds and nuts, dried fruits, turtle-shaped cakes, and pineapple cake.
Discover the hidden gems of Jiufen! Dive deeper into its captivating history and breathtaking landscapes with our day tour. Don’t just read about it – experience it!
