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Wang Tea (Dadaocheng)
A tea company founded in 1890 in Dadaocheng and run for five generations, where visitors can tour the charcoal roasting room and taste before buying.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic tea merchant and tasting room
- Area
- Dadaocheng (Datong), Taipei, Taiwan
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Sunday) · 09:00–18:00
- Official site
- wangtea.com.tw
Good to know
- Tea tasting
- Factory tours
- Charcoal roasting room
- Closed Sundays
Why we recommend it
Wang Tea is one of the oldest tea businesses in Taipei and a rewarding stop for anyone curious about Taiwanese tea. The company was founded in 1890 near the Tamsui River in Dadaocheng, the old trading district that grew rich on tea exports, and it has been run by the same business for five generations. Its premises still work as a tea factory, so a visit feels more like stepping behind the scenes than shopping in a boutique.
The highlight is the traditional roasting room, where staff light charcoal fires and roast tea slowly over the gentle heat to bring out its flavour. Seeing the process helps explain why roasted teas taste so different from lighter, unroasted ones. The company invites visitors to tour the factory and to taste before buying, and it says that after a guided tour most people come away with a much better understanding of how tea is made and graded.
The shop emphasises fair, fixed pricing, so you do not need to haggle, and it hand-picks the stems from its leaves. It caters for both beginners and connoisseurs, which makes it a good place to buy gifts: ask for a recommendation within your budget, taste two or three teas side by side, and take home the one you prefer. Ask how to brew your chosen tea before you leave, so you can recreate the flavour at home.
Wang Tea is open from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00, and closed on Sundays. Weekday mornings are usually the calmest time for a tasting. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you would like a tour and tasting, and contact the company in advance if you are coming as a group or would like a guided visit in English; it lists both a phone number and an email address on its website. It suits tea lovers, food-minded travellers, families with older children and anyone looking for a meaningful souvenir.
The shop is on a lane off Section 2 of Chongqing North Road in the Datong District, in the heart of Dadaocheng. Dihua Street, with its herbalists, fabric traders and New Year market, is close by, so the two make a natural pairing for a morning in the old town, followed by lunch or a visit to the Dalongdong temples further north.
Wang Tea (Dadaocheng) FAQs
When was Wang Tea founded?
The company was founded in 1890 and has been run for five generations.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00; closed on Sundays.
Can you taste tea before buying?
Yes, visitors are invited to taste before they buy.
Can you tour the factory?
Yes, the company offers tours, including its traditional charcoal roasting room.
Do you need to bargain?
No, the shop uses fair, fixed pricing.
Where is Wang Tea?
At No. 26, Lane 64, Section 2, Chongqing North Road, in the Datong District.
How do you contact the shop?
By phone on +886 2 2555 9164 or by email at [email protected].
What is nearby?
Dihua Street and the rest of historic Dadaocheng are close by.