Kao Chi Tea House (Beitou Main Store)

Review

Kao Chi Tea House is at No. 54, Lane 25, Qingjiang Road in Beitou District, in a lane near Beitou Market, and locals have grown up drinking from this old-school shop. Supertaste includes it in its Beitou Market must-eat list, its round-up of classic Taiwanese iced black teas and a list of Beitou residents' favourite eats, calling it the go-to name for bagged drinks among Beitou locals.

It is best known for iced black tea and Wuyou tea. Supertaste's 2022 information lists large black tea at NT$25 and medium at NT$20, while another article says the smallest bag of black tea or Wuyou tea costs NT$25. Wuyou tea blends oolong with green tea in a carefully judged ratio. Reports describe it as moderately sweet with a delicate aroma and no bitterness or astringency, while the black tea is not too sweet, gently fragrant and very refreshing with lots of crushed ice. Diners also recommend the mulberry drinks, grapefruit green tea and winter melon oolong.

Praise centres on low prices and huge portions, with even the smallest size too much for two people, plus the nostalgic bag format and clean tea flavour. Some find the drinks rather plain, with no fancy toppings, and one visitor expected to add ice cream only to find it is not offered; queues outside are common even on weekdays.

Sources differ on opening time, with some saying 6 a.m. and recent data showing 6:30 a.m., but all say it runs until about 10 p.m., so check before you go. It is mainly takeaway, so you order and walk off with your bag. It is walkable from Beitou MRT Station and handy for Beitou Market or the Xinbeitou hot spring area, though parking in the lanes is hard.

Good for anyone wanting a drink after snacking around Beitou Market, or a bag of something cold before or after a hot spring soak. First-timers should order the smallest Wuyou tea or black tea, which is plenty; for something different, try winter melon oolong or grapefruit green tea. The bags are big, so two people sharing one is about right, and plan to carry it as you go.