Someone asked me why we made the tea bricks in the shape of Taiwan.
I thought about it for a long time and realized there are two answers to this question:
One is design-related, and the other is emotional.
The Design Answer
Taiwan's outline has a unique recognizability. Wide in the north, tapering in the south, the eastern coast defined by the ridge of the Central Mountain Range, and the western coast by the extension of the plains. This shape, almost without explanation, is recognized by Taiwanese people all over the world.
We wanted to create a gift that, upon opening, immediately tells you where it's from. No need for extensive text,
No need for complex packaging design—the shape itself is the first sentence of the story.
The edge of each tea brick is Taiwan's coastline. This is not just design; it's geography.
The Emotional Answer
Our tea comes from Pinglin, a town nestled in the mountains upstream of the Feicui Reservoir.
The land, water, and air here collectively create the unique flavors of Baozhong Oolong, Oriental Beauty, and Honey Scented Black Tea.
For us, pressing the tea leaves into the shape of Taiwan is a statement:
What grows from this land should naturally take this form.
This is what we want to convey, simply by its shape.
What's Inside Each Brick
Each Taiwan-shaped tea brick weighs 5 grams and is tightly pressed from whole tea leaves. When steeped in hot water, the tea leaves slowly unfurl. The three flavors each have their own character:
Baozhong Oolong, Pinglin's most classic tea, with an elegant orchid aroma and a sweet, lingering aftertaste.
Oriental Beauty, develops a natural honey aroma due to bites from the small green leafhopper, offering rich layers of ripe fruit notes.
Honey Scented Black Tea, highly fermented, with a rich red liquor and a sweet, warm, smooth taste.
About Giving This Gift
The Taiwan-shaped tea bricks have since become a popular gift choice for many.
Some have taken them to Japan, to the United States, some use them as corporate gifts, and some buy them for friends who have recently moved overseas.
The most common feedback we receive is: "The recipient immediately understood."
Understood what? Understood that this is Taiwanese tea, understood that this is a thoughtful gift, understood what the giver wanted to convey.
The shape achieved what we wanted to express, which makes us feel that this design is correct.
