News

  “Magistrate Premium Tea” contest was held for the first time this year. After one and a half day of evaluation, the results were announced. On May 31, Magistrate Lin Ming-chen went to the venue of the evaluation – 921 Earthquake Park and International Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition Center. After tasting the tea, Magistrate Lin exclaimed, “It is so smooth and aromatic.” For the sake of the quality, Magistrate Lin and all the judges sealed the results and reexamined them twice before announcing them to the public.

  In the first round, 28 tea samples were selected from the 734 entries in order to test for the banned remnant pesticide. In the second round, all the premium tea and first-class tea were sent for testing, and the second-grade and excellent tea would be tested again. If any of the banned remnant pesticide was found, their awards and tea would be confiscated. Magistrate Lin said that all the shortlisted teas were double-checked to ensure the safety of the “Magistrate Premium Tea.” It was the government’s duty to monitor the safety of tea so that consumers could purchase them without any worry.

  Magistrate Lin expressed that in this evaluation process, the sponsor had invited 4 experts from the Tea Research and Extension Station to select the premium teas with distinctive quality. In the coming year, the government would expand and enlarge the scale of this contest in order to help tea farmers market their tea. Magistrate Lin also pointed out that the county government should sponsor “Magistrate Premium Tea” contest once a year to choose the tea that could represent the county and to promote the development of tea industry in the county.

  In this contest, there were two categories: mild-scent and ripe-scent. In the former category, there were 374 entries, from which 1 distinguished tea, 10 grade 1 tea, 28 grade 2 tea, and 163 excellence awards would be granted. 172 entries were eliminated at an elimination rate of 45.98%. In the latter category, there were 360 entries, from which 1 distinguished tea, 10 grade 1 tea, 26 grade 2 tea, and 150 excellence awards would be granted. 173 entries were eliminated at an elimination rate of 48%. Mr. Qiu Chui-feng, the secretary of Tea Research and Extension Station, expressed that in the contest, all the teas shortlisted grade 2 or above were of exceptional quality. Each of them differed very little. The winner of the distinctive award was nice in appearance and smooth in taste. The tea contained floral aroma and clear and bright in color, demonstrating distinguished standard.

  The major appeal of the “Magistrate Premium Tea” contest is to search for the tea with distinctive and rare quality. By sponsoring this contest, the county government can promote and market the good teas in Nantou. This event helps elevate the tea farmers’ tea processing techniques and the teas’ additive values. The county government also helps the farmers to produce high quality tea with an effective grading and packing system so that it can increase the visibility of tea in Nantou. Eventually, all the tea farmers in the county can increase their incomes.