Taiwan’s tea-growing regions are vast and topographically complex, so the growing season and number of harvests for tea trees vary depending on the variety, temperature and humidity, and elevation. Generally, based on the harvest time, tea can be categorized as follows:
- Spring tea: mid-March to mid-May
- Summer tea: mid-May to mid-August
- Autumn tea: late August to late October
- Winter tea: late October to late November
As the saying goes: “Spring tea is fragrant, summer tea is bitter, autumn tea is astringent, and winter tea has depth.” In the evaluation of oolong tea quality, spring and winter teas are traditionally considered superior to summer and autumn teas. However, for black tea, the second summer harvest (commonly known as “June White”) is regarded as having the best quality.
Therefore, tea quality cannot be judged solely by harvest season. Since everyone’s taste preferences differ, the most important thing is to find the tea that best suits your palate—one that brings satisfaction, comfort, and joy..
