Visiting Tea & Magic Hand in Taiwan was such a memorable experience. I got to see the whole journey of Si Ji Chun oolong-from tea bushes in the field to the detailed steps of processing. What stood out was how clean and well-organized everything was. Each part of the process-plucking, withering, oxidation, rolling, drying-was done with such care. It helped me understand how much work goes into every cup. This visit made me appreciate tea even more. It wasn’t just about tasting-it was about the people, the process, and the passion behind it.

Instructor Alex was excellent! Learning about the history of tea culture was very helpful as a background to learning about the variety of teas produced in Taiwan.

The tea course is really great

This morning, I learned about the history, origins, and growing regions of various Taiwanese teas at Ciaocha Teahouse. I was surprised to learn that john Dopp from scotland helped bring Taiwanese tea to international recognition and find connecting tea makers and spreading knowledge. In the afternoon, I visited the Formosa Tea Industry and Culture Promotion Center, where I observed the production of Four Seasons oolong tea and had the chance to pick tea leaves myself. I learned the basic steps of tea processing: • Picking – One bud with 2–3 leaves • Withering outdoors – To reduce moisture and initiate oxidation • Indoor withering – To promote partial oxidation • Kill-green – Using heat to stop the oxidation process • Rolling – Shaping the leaves into ball form • Drying – To reduce moisture and stabilize the tea After that, I tasted a cold-brewed version of the tea. It had a fragrant aroma, a moderate level of strength, and was very smooth and easy to drink. Finally, I got to see the difference between hand-picked and machine-picked tea fieldsthe shape and structure of the tea bushes vary noticeably depending on the harvesting method.

Wonderful course covering the history and characteristics of Taiwan teas! Dr. Alex is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, and his teaching is clear and thorough. Because of this course, I have a better appreciation and understanding of Taiwan’s beautiful tea!