In 2009, Typhoon Morakot ravaged Taiwan, including Rui-feng Village in Chiayi—the home of Man Tang Tea’s Ye You-zhen. That disaster planted a seed in her heart: “I have to do something for my hometown.” After the storm, You-zhen returned and began to think how she could let more people discover Rui-feng and taste its distinctive teas. In 2014 she and her sister-in-law, Xing-yuan, opened a shop in downtown Chiayi under the brand “Man Tang Tea,” selling fine teas from their Alishan Rui-feng terroir. Every award-winning lot on the shelves is grown in the family gardens and hand-selected by You-zhen, so every visitor—local or traveler—can sip and learn about the many faces of Alishan tea. Easy brew guides are provided in Chinese, English, and Japanese; cheerful, youthful packaging and bilingual service make the store a go-to for international shoppers. Beyond selling tea, Man Tang teams up with the Rui-feng community to host seasonal farm-stay experiences: guests pick, wither, roast, roll, and finish tea themselves, then drink it amid bamboo groves and mountain quiet. “Man” means fullness; “Tang” evokes the homesick wanderer. The brand logo is a Taiwan blue magpie—sacred to the Tsou people—whose graceful flight through the shop carries You-zhen’s steadfast love for her land. Come share this sweet, pure moment with us. Recommended: limited seasonal lots and Jin-Xuan oolong.
