Man Guan Tea Garden Introduction
Enjoying a heartfelt pot of tea In an era where tea shops and bubble tea stores are on the rise, most people prefer quick and convenient takeaway beverages, often forgetting one important fact: a good cup of tea takes time to brew. Fan Yi-jen, the owner of Man Guan Tea Garden, understands this well. Therefore, in 2014, she opened Man Guan Tea Garden on Wenhua Road to personally brew the tea she produces for her customers. Yi-jen states 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 customers appreciate the aroma, flavor, and characteristics of each type of tea offered in the shop. For instance, the natural fruity aroma of the Honey Oolong subtly carries a delicate honey fragrance, while the rich brew of the Qingxin Oolong turns into a refreshing, smooth spring water sensation upon tasting. Each year, as seasons change, the same tea leaves adapt their flavors according to the climate, and these stories take time to share with the customers—often requiring over an hour of attention for each group. However, Yi-jen delights in this, saying that the time spent with guests has become the greatest reward since she opened the shop. Man Guan Tea Garden does not pursue extravagant packaging; instead, it insists on maintaining every step of the tea-making process—from cultivation, harvesting, roasting, production, to packaging and sales—without any step being outsourced to others. In 2017, a total of 457 items were sent to SGS for food certification testing, with tea quality being the utmost concern for Yi-jen. Once, a Korean man who had worked in Taiwan for ten years brought his secretary to the shop. Each time he finished a pot of tea, he would instruct her, "This is the tea I want to drink in the morning, this is for after lunch, and this is for the evening." The teas in the shop catered to the important moments he needed to be immersed in tea fragrance throughout the day. This Korean man's attitude towards tea aligns perfectly with Yi-jen's concept of "living tea." The meticulously cultivated Alishan tea leaves await the day we step through the door to discover them, becoming important guests that fill the significant moments of our lives. Recommended items: Honey Black Oolong, Charcoal Roasted Aged Tea (Private Tea).
