Wang Tea

Review

Wang Tea is at No. 26, Lane 64, Section 2, Chongqing North Road in Datong District, tucked into a quiet lane near the Dadaocheng end of Yuanhuan, with a tea factory of more than 100 ping behind its old red-brick front. Smile Taiwan reports that the business grew out of Wang Yu Chi Tea in Xiamen and that fifth-generation owner Wang Sheng-chun says the family has made tea since 1890; a late-2025 article adds that the second generation came to Dadaocheng during the tea export boom. Exports were once the core trade, and the shop still keeps old wooden tea chests labelled in Thai and English, while Tatler notes the building is a designated city monument.

The shop sells refined tea, with an emphasis on blending and roasting. Reports describe a traditional charcoal roasting room still in use: charcoal is crushed into a pit, covered with pre-burnt rice husks to control the heat, and baskets of tea are set on top to roast slowly. Lightly roasted Wenshan Baozhong and high-mountain oolong are handled by hand and machine, while rare-variety oolong and Tieguanyin are roasted in charcoal baskets. New upright, minimalist boxes have replaced the old packaging, and tea bags range from everyday to premium; next door, Wangtea Lab serves unsweetened pure tea drinks plus experiments such as nitrogen-infused tea.

Visitors praise friendly, knowledgeable staff who explain the roasting methods, offer tastings to compare teas and sometimes show guests the roasting room and old tea chests at the back; the packaging is also seen as gift-worthy. Critics warn that nothing here is sweetened, which may not suit those after sugary drinks, and prices are clearly higher than street bubble tea.

Online listings show hours of roughly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sundays; an older article lists 7 p.m., so check before you go. There are two tasting areas and an upstairs lecture and tasting room; reports mention free Nanguan music performances on Saturday afternoons that require booking, and tours of the roasting baskets can also be reserved. It is walkable from Daqiaotou or Beimen MRT stations, and parking in the lanes is hard.

Good for anyone shopping for Taiwanese tea as a gift or curious about traditional tea craft. On a first visit, ask staff to pour a few teas with different roasting levels, then choose a rare-variety oolong or Tieguanyin; upright boxes suit gifts, while tea bags are handy at home, and the owner suggests simply steeping leaves in a mug for about ten minutes.