Lai's Tea Shop (Second Market)

Review

Lao Lai Black Tea sits inside the Second Market in Central District, on the Sanmin Road side, and is where the nationwide Lao Lai Tea chain began. The story starts with Lai Cheng-mo, a fruit seller who brewed black tea just to quench his own thirst. Customers who tasted it kept asking to buy some, so he closed the fruit business and focused on tea. More than forty years later, the next generation runs the stall. Sources disagree on the founding year, some saying 1972 and others the 1980s, so most reports simply say "over forty years."

The signature Lao Lai Black Tea is old-school: reports describe a strong tea flavor that is sweet without being cloying, served over finely crushed ice that makes it very refreshing. The Soy Milk Black Tea, also called the house soy tea, is made with soy milk cooked fresh every day. The bean and tea aromas blend into a smooth drink that tastes like milk tea with soy in place of dairy. One article says the leaves come from the Puli area of Nantou, and some regulars feel the market original tastes richer than the chain branches.

Media widely list it as a must-drink when visiting the Second Market, and a 2025 Business Today market feature ranked it first, although that piece was a promotional collaboration with the city government. The most common complaint is that the original stall uses fixed sweetness that cannot be adjusted, so people who dislike sweet drinks should be prepared. On price, chain stores raised both signature teas from NT$35 to NT$40 in May 2025; sources differ on whether the original stall followed, so check before you go.

Hours also vary by source: our data says 6:30 to 17:30, while Business Today lists 7:30 to 18:00 and closed on Thursdays, so check before you go. The market gets busy early, and arriving early means fewer people. The nearby Second Market parking lot reopened after renovation in June 2025, charging NT$20 per half hour for cars and NT$20 per entry for scooters, about a minute's walk away.

It suits anyone having breakfast at the Second Market who wants an old-fashioned drink alongside. On a first visit, order the Lao Lai Black Tea to taste the original; for something more distinctive, pick the Soy Milk Black Tea. Grabbing a cup and sipping it while snacking through the market is the classic way to enjoy it.