Lugu Township

Lugu Township in Nantou County is the home of Dong Ding oolong, one of the most historically important Taiwanese teas. The 'estate' here is not a single garden but a township-wide growing area centred on Dong Ding mountain, where multiple generations of farming families produce ball-rolled, medium-oxidised, charcoal-roasted oolong in a style that effectively defined modern Taiwanese tea before high-mountain teas took the spotlight.

Tea was brought to Dong Ding from Fujian's Wuyi area in the 19th century by settlers from the Lin family, who carried Qingxin cultivar bushes across the strait and planted them on the slopes of Dong Ding mountain. Over the next century, Lugu Township developed into the centre of Taiwan's oolong industry, refining the modern ball-rolled processing style with relatively pronounced oxidation (around 30-40%) and traditional charcoal roasting that gives the finished tea a deep, toasty character without obscuring its underlying floral notes.

The Lugu Farmers' Association competition - held twice a year and judged blind across hundreds of submissions - is one of the most respected tea competitions in Taiwan. A 'top award' Dong Ding from this competition can reach extraordinary prices and is treated almost as a benchmark for traditional Taiwanese oolong craftsmanship.

Signature teas

• Dong Ding Oolong
• Lugu Competition Tea
• Roasted Qingxin Oolong

Certifications

Lugu Farmers' Association competition system

Visiting

Lugu Township is easily reached from Sun Moon Lake or Taichung; the Farmers' Association runs a tea cultural park with tasting facilities.