Tea Route
Half dayTaipei / Dadaochengeasy
Dadaocheng Tea-Buying Walk
大稻埕買茶散步
Taipei's historic tea quarter on foot — century-old merchants scooping loose-leaf from big tins, finishing at a modern tea bar inside a working refinery.
Dadaocheng built Taiwan's 19th-century tea trade, and its merchant houses still line the lanes off Dihua Street. This walk strings together the old loose-leaf houses where you can taste before you buy, then ends at a contemporary tea bar — the clearest way to see how Taipei buys tea, then and now.
The Route
- 1
A century-old refinery still roasting on site — a classic first stop for loose-leaf and the smell of charcoal.
≈ 75 min
- 2
One of Taipei's oldest tea merchants — taste, ask questions, and buy loose-leaf by weight.
≈ 60 min
- 3
- 4
Finish at a modern tea bar inside the historic refinery — the contemporary face of the same tea families.
≈ 60 min
What to drink
- Roasted Baozhong and Tieguanyin
- Aged Taiwanese oolong
- Modern loose-leaf and cold-brew at the tea bar
Before you go
- The stops cluster around the lanes off Dihua Street and are walkable, but verify each merchant's current opening status on its official source before you go.
- Tasting is part of buying here — sample a few roasts and buy by weight; carry some cash alongside cards.
- Browsing is welcome, but these are working shops; ask before photographing tins or staff.
Venue details and opening status can change. Always verify current details before visiting.
If this is your first tea route
Buying loose-leaf can feel intimidating — it isn't. Tell the shopkeeper what you like (light and floral, or dark and roasted) and a rough budget, and let them scoop a small amount to try.