When you come to Pinglin, almost everyone brings a box of tea home.
But which box truly contains "Pinglin tea"?
We are Leaflow, fifth-generation tea farmers rooted in Pinglin.
We are the locals who craft tea into innovative gift boxes.
In this article, from a local's perspective, we want to tell you what's worth taking home when you visit Pinglin.
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What makes Pinglin tea special?
Pinglin is located upstream of the Feicui Reservoir, a water protection area.
Because of this restriction, there is no pollution here, only tea plantations and mountains.
The most famous tea here is Wenshan Baozhong tea, the least fermented type of Taiwanese oolong tea. The tea liquid is golden and clear, with a naturally bright floral aroma, free from bitterness or astringency.
In addition to Baozhong tea, Pinglin also produces Honey Scented Black Tea. When bitten by the jacobiasca formosana, the tea leaves naturally ferment, producing a honey-like sweetness—no sugar or artificial flavors added, just the taste of the tea itself.
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How to choose Pinglin souvenirs?
People who come to Pinglin to buy tea
often face a problem: they don't understand tea, don't know the differences, and can't brew it on-site for comparison.
Here are some practical principles for choosing tea:
1. Recognize the origin, not just the brand.
The Taiwanese tea market is mixed, and many gift boxes advertised as "Taiwanese tea" may not have tea sourced from Pinglin. When choosing, directly ask "Is this Pinglin tea?" or check the packaging for origin labels.
2. Choose the form that suits the recipient.
Elders who enjoy ritual and have tea sets → Choose loose leaf tea or tea bricks.
Busy friends who don't have time to brew tea regularly → Choose whole leaf tea bags.
Foreign friends trying Taiwanese tea for the first time → Choose tea bricks (unique shape, easy to carry).
3. Look for pesticide-free labels.
Good tea isn't necessarily expensive, but good tea is always clean. Choose products with pesticide residue testing for peace of mind.
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Leaflow's Pinglin Souvenir Recommendations
Baozhong Oolong Tea Brick Gift Box
We press Pinglin Baozhong tea into small tea bricks, one brick per brew.
No need to weigh, no need for tea sets; brew the entire brick, and the floral aroma is fully released.
The design is simple, suitable for friends who don't often drink tea but want to try it.
Some also buy it to display on their coffee table at home, finding it aesthetically pleasing just to look at.
Honey Scented Black Tea Whole Leaf Tea Bag Square Box
Pinglin Honey Scented Black Tea, packed into six pyramid whole leaf tea bags in a square box.
No tea set needed, no measuring, just drop a bag into a cup, and in three minutes, you have a cup of black tea with a honey aroma.
No artificial flavors added, just the taste of the tea itself.
Perfect for busy friends, or for keeping in the office for your own enjoyment.
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When in Pinglin, come visit us
Leaflow Pinglin Store
Address: No. 19-1, Shuishongqi Keng, Shuide Village, Pinglin District, New Taipei City
A 3-5 minute walk from Pinglin Tea Museum
Free public parking lot
Opening hours: 10:00–18:00, closed on Tuesdays
🐾 Pet-friendly outdoor area
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It's okay if you can't come to Pinglin
Can't visit in person? Our tea brick gift boxes and whole leaf tea bags are available on the Leaflow official website. We offer free shipping across Taiwan for orders over NT$1000 and can also ship worldwide.
