Man Guan Tea Garden Introduction
Drinking a pot of heartwarming tea In an era where bubble tea shops are on the rise, most people prefer quick and convenient take-out tea, often forgetting one essential fact: a good cup of tea requires time to brew. Fan Yi-Chen, the owner of Man Guan Tea Garden, is well aware of this. So in 2014, she opened Man Guan Tea Garden on Cultural Road, with the intention of personally brewing her own tea for consumers. Yi-Chen believes that drinking tea needs a platform for face-to-face interaction, and through the complete tea brewing process, she wants customers to understand the aroma, taste, and characteristics of each type of tea available in the shop. For example, the natural fruit aroma of Honey Oolong subtly carries a gentle honey note, while the rich tea liquid of Qingxin Oolong offers a fresh and smooth spring water sensation upon entry. With the changes in climate each year and season, the same type of tea can adapt its flavor accordingly, and these stories need to be shared with customers over several pots of tea, which is why a group of guests often requires over an hour of service. However, Yi-Chen enjoys this process, stating that the time spent with customers has become her greatest reward since opening the shop. Man Guan Tea Garden's tea does not pursue glamorous packaging; instead, it insists that every step—from planting, harvesting, roasting, to packaging and selling—must be done in-house, with no step outsourced. In 2017 alone, a total of 457 items were submitted for inspection to SGS food certification, as the quality of tea has always been Yi-Chen's top priority. Once, a Korean who had worked in Taiwan for ten years brought his secretary to the shop. With each pot of tea he enjoyed, he instructed his secretary: this is the tea he drinks in the morning, this is the tea for after lunch, and this is the tea for the evening. The teas in the shop satisfied his crucial moments throughout the day when he needed to soak in the aroma of tea. The Korean's attitude towards tea aligns perfectly with Yi-Chen's concept of "lifestyle tea." These carefully cultivated Alishan teas are waiting for the day we walk through the door to discover them, becoming important guests that fill those moments in our lives. Recommended dishes: Honey Red Oolong, Charcoal-Roasted Aged Tea (Private Tea).
