Let’s take a deeper look into the farming methods currently practiced in Taiwan’s tea cultivation.
The fertilizers used in tea garden management generally fall into two categories:
- Organic Fertilizer
This type of fertilizer takes longer to decompose and be absorbed by tea plants—usually more than 30 days. After application, around 30% of the nutrients are absorbed by the current tea crop, while the remaining 70% benefits the next harvest season. In well-managed tea gardens, farmers calculate how much of the fertilizer will be effective for the current crop and apply organic fertilizer at the right timing accordingly. - Chemical Compound Fertilizer
Modern chemical fertilizers primarily contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These nutrients can be absorbed by tea plants in a short period and are commonly used as “side dressing” fertilizers—that is, additional applications made during the crop’s growth cycle. Each stage of a tea plant’s development requires different nutrients, and its needs vary throughout the seasons.
One of the most common misconceptions is that conventional farming relies solely on chemical fertilizers. In reality, careful tea farmers combine both types of fertilizers at appropriate times, which significantly supports healthy tea tree growth and enhances the quality of the fresh leaves. Furthermore, pesticide residues in the tea are not a concern when proper farming practices are followed.
