2026 Hakka Reading Festival seeks flavor in Liugui, Meinong, finding 'tea'

The 2026 Hakka Reading Festival is inviting participants to embark on a "Literary Journey Through Righteousness" (用文學尋味右堆), delving into the rich tea culture of Taiwan's Liugui and Meinong districts. Organized by the Kaohsiung Hakka Affairs Commission, the festival offers an immersive experience into the region's centuries-old tea-making traditions and the vibrant spirit of young farmers returning to their roots.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with the tea-making process, from hand-rolling tea leaves to savoring unique tea-infused cuisine. In Liugui, visitors can learn from Xu Shengyang, a "model farmer" from Xin Yuan Tea, who was recently recognized among Taiwan's top 100 young farmers. The experience includes tasting tea eggs, fried shrimp cakes, and tea ice cream, showcasing the versatility of local mountain tea.

“

This walking tour starts with 'food culture' and leads everyone into the hundred-year tea-making years of Liugui and Meinong, witnessing the vitality of young farmers returning to their homeland to pioneer and the sustainable management of Hakka villages.

The festival also extends to agricultural experiences, with visits to farms like He Mu Farm in Liugui, where attendees can pick fresh guavas. The journey continues to Meinong, where the sixth-generation inheritor of Yong Quan Tea, Zhan Bo-xun, will host a tea ceremony featuring their century-old mountain tea. This cultural exploration aims to highlight the deep connection between Hakka culture, the land, and sustainable living, offering a taste of the authentic flavors and humanistic heritage of eastern Kaohsiung.

“

We hope that through this journey of Taiwanese tea, more people can taste the deliciousness and humanistic heritage of the Hakka land in eastern Kaohsiung.