The Yuchih Branch, Tea Research and Extension Station is Taiwan’s only red tea research institute. Formerly known as the Yuchi Black Tea Experiment Substation of the Taiwan Governor-General’s Central Research Institute, this historic site preserves one of Taiwan’s rare examples of traditional British-style factory architecture. Thanks to meticulous maintenance, the original machinery remains fully operational, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and historical charm of the era.
In the early 20th century, a young Japanese tea specialist from Gunma Prefecture, Arai Kokichiro, arrived in the malaria-infested Yuchi Village with his family. He spearheaded the introduction and cultivation of black tea varieties, enabling tea strains from India and Southeast Asia to successfully take root in Taiwan. His efforts laid the foundation for Yuchi Black Tea, marking the beginning of its rich history.
By 1928, Yuchi Black Tea had been exported for the first time to London and New York, where it received high praise from European tea experts at auction. Its fragrance was even compared to that of India’s finest black teas. As Yuchi Black Tea gained widespread recognition, its price soared—each kilogram was worth two days’ wages for an average laborer at the time. Thanks to the groundwork laid by Arai Kokichiro, Yuchi Black Tea became one of Taiwan’s key export teas in the 1960s, generating significant foreign exchange for the Nationalist government and accounting for more than half of Taiwan’s total black tea exports.
In later years, Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture designated the Tea Research Station and its Japanese-style dormitories as historical buildings, undertaking restoration and beautification efforts. Today, this historic site continues to preserve and pass on the heritage of Taiwan’s tea culture for future generations.
