Alishan artisan Jian Guangzuo wins Chiayi County small-leaf black tea competition

A skilled tea artisan from the renowned Alishan region has claimed the championship title at the Chiayi County Small-Leaf Black Tea Processing Competition. Jian Guangzuo, a master craftsman, emerged victorious after a rigorous contest that showcased the finest tea-making techniques.

The competition, hosted by the Meishan Township Farmers' Association at the Wang Ding Tea Factory, served as a platform for 35 dedicated tea makers from across the Greater Alishan tea district. Participants engaged in intense skill-sharing and refinement, aiming to elevate the quality and market competitiveness of their small-leaf black teas.

The meticulous process involved traditional, purely handmade methods, covering stages from withering and rolling to fermentation and drying. Competitors had to expertly assess tea leaf quality upon receiving it and adjust processing times and intensity based on prevailing weather conditions, requiring constant vigilance over the transformation from fresh leaf to dried tea.

Judges, including Yang Xiaoying, acting deputy head of the Southern Branch of the Tea Research and Extension Station, and former head of the Fish Pond Branch, Guo Kuanfu, evaluated the finished tea based on appearance, liquor color, aroma, and taste. They sought characteristics such as tightly rolled, uniform leaves, proper dryness, a vibrant reddish-orange liquor, a clear and bright infusion, a fragrant and uplifting aroma, and a rich, astringent yet sweet and mellow taste.

Jian Guangzuo's victory places him among the elite, with other top honors awarded to Chen Yian, Xie Risheng, and Liu Jiancheng for second place, and Ye Yingde, Jian Chengxuan, Lin Shiping, Jian Jiaqing, Li Xianghao, and Wu Zhiyong for third. These winners are slated to represent Chiayi County in the upcoming national small-leaf black tea processing competition, following the success of previous county representatives who secured national second and third places.