Man Guan Tea Garden Introduction
Enjoying a pot of heartfelt tea In an era where tea shops and bubble tea stores are on the rise, most people prefer quick and convenient takeout drinks, often forgetting one important fact: a good cup of tea takes time to brew. Fan Yi-chen, the owner of Man Guan Tea Garden, is well aware of this fact, which is why she opened Man Guan Tea Garden on Cultural Road in 2014, intending to personally brew the tea she produces for consumers. Yi-chen believes that the most essential aspect of drinking tea is having a platform for face-to-face communication. Through the complete tea brewing process, she helps guests understand the aroma, taste, and characteristics of each tea, such as how the natural fruity aroma of Honey Oolong subtly incorporates a delicate honey fragrance, or how the rich broth of Qingxin Oolong offers a fresh and smooth spring water experience upon entry. The stories of how a single type of tea adapts its flavor according to seasonal changes each year need to be shared over several teapots, which is why a group of guests often requires over an hour of hospitality. Yet, Yi-chen enjoys this process immensely and says that the time spent with guests has become her greatest reward since opening the shop. Man Guan Tea Garden does not pursue extravagant packaging but insists that every step, from planting, harvesting, and roasting to packaging and selling the tea, must be handled personally without any outsourcing. In 2017 alone, there were a total of 457 items sent for inspection to SGS food certification bodies, and the quality of the tea remains Yi-chen's top priority. Once, a Korean man who had worked in Taiwan for ten years brought his secretary to the shop, and for every pot of tea he drank, he would turn to his secretary and say: this is the tea he wants for the morning, this is for after a hearty lunch, and this is for the evening. The teas in the shop fulfill the important moments in his day that require a fragrant tea experience. This Korean man's attitude towards tea closely aligns with Yi-chen's philosophy of "living tea." The meticulously cultivated Alishan tea is waiting for us to discover, becoming an important guest to fill those moments in our lives. Recommended dishes: Honey Red Oolong, Charcoal-Roasted Aged Tea (Private Tea).
