As has become tradition, to coincide with the Chinese New Year, we have arranged a special cultural excursion for ECCT members. This year, we will be exploring the history of tea cultivation, processing and trading in Taiwan.

Our tour starts in the historical Dadaocheng (大稻埕) district of Taipei, home to some of Taiwan's oldest trading establishments, including the first AS Watson & Co building, constructed in 1919 to house Watson's first Western-style pharmacy in Taiwan. The building has now been converted into a restaurant, where guests will enjoy a light fusion-style lunch accompanied by some of Taiwan's finest black teas.

After lunch, guests will take a short walk to the Wang Tea Museum, where they will be given a guided tour and a demonstration of the process of transforming raw tea leaves into Oolong tea. The tour will conclude with a tasting of Wang Tea's finest Oolong tea.

We have invited distinguished academic historian Dr Lin Man-houng to join us on this tour. During the tour, guests will have the opportunity to engage directly with our learned guest about Taiwan's long and fascinating multi-cultural history, including the development of Dadaocheng into a thriving trading hub.

10:30-11:00 Registration at AS Watson Tea House (ASW)

11:00-12:00 Tea Tasting at ASW (Taiwanese black tea)

12:00-13:00 Lunch at ASW

13:00-13:15 Short walk to the Wang Tea Museum  有記名茶

13:15-14:00 Guided tour of the Wang Tea Museum, including a demonstration of tea processing facilities and tasting of Oolong tea

Wang Tea is a renowned family-run tea producer which has its roots in Fujian Province in mainland China. It was founded in Xiamen in 1890 by Wang Jing-hui. His son Wang Xio-jin came to Taiwan in 1907 and set up a factory in Dadaocheng, then already a bustling town, where he began refining and exporting Northern Taiwanese Pouchong Tea. Wang Tea, still owned and run by the descendants of the founder, has since expanded to several outlets. The original refinery factory has been transformed into a production, sales, educational and cultural venue or museum, designed to enable visitors to "Interact with Tea". At the museum guests can view displays of various categories of tea, historical documents and tea-processing facilities.

* The cost includes lunch, a tour of the Wang Tea Museum and tea tastings.

* Spouses and partners are welcome to join.
* This event will be conducted in English.
* There will be a 15 mins walk (tour) in Dadaocheng (大稻埕),  please wear comfortable shoes.