XIAMEN, Fujian, China
Taiwan emerged victorious with the grand prize and two gold medals at the tea industry's first cross-strait spring tea competition. The event was hosted by the Xiamen Tea Association and Taiwan Alishan Mountain tea grower and producing associations.
Lo Chih-ho of Taiwan was judged the best tea among 111 entries by a panel representing growers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Lo, who is from Chiayi County, was named "Tea King". Two gold medals were awarded to Geow Yong Tea Hong of Taipei and silver medals were awared to grower Lin Kai-yi along with producers from Kaohsiung City and Chiayi County. The winning tea was Cing Shing oolong, which is grown high in the southern mountains of Taiwan.
Central News Agency reported that the 35-member Taiwan delegation was led by Hsueh Wen-Yi who chairs the Chiayi County Alishan Mountain tea industry association.
The competition was organized to encoruage cross-strait trade, Hsueh told CNA.