TOAF’s Ching Yuan Tea: Protecting Water Sources for 18 Years
TOAF’s Organic Tea Gift Set Dancing Won Gold at the 2026 World Green Tea Contest

Fu Tien Organic Farming Promotion Center, an affiliated center of the Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF), entered its organic tea gift set, Dancing, featuring Pouchong tea and black tea, in the 2026 World Green Tea Contest. The results were announced on September 7, and the gift set won the Gold Prize, marking a proud achievement for Taiwanese organic tea on the international stage.

Organized by the World Green Tea Association, a public interest incorporated foundation based in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, the World Green Tea Contest (WGTC) is one of Asia’s oldest and largest international tea evaluation events. Known as the “Oscars of the Tea World,” the contest has long served as an important platform connecting global tea culture with the international tea industry and fostering international exchange.

The judging criteria go beyond traditional assessments of a tea’s intrinsic qualities, such as aroma and taste. The contest also evaluates the product’s overall appeal, including its development concept, product naming, packaging design, and value for money[MOU1.1]. In other words, it assesses how convincingly a tea product presents itself from the tea plantation to the marketplace. In 2026, 107 tea products from 10 countries entered the contest. Of these, only 19 received the Gold Prize and 14 received the highest honor, the Grand Gold Prize. The fact that Dancing won an award among so many outstanding teas from around the world is a meaningful acknowledgment of TOAF’s years of dedicated work in organic tea cultivation at its Jing Yuan tea plantation.

Living and Dancing in Harmony with Wildlife: Protecting Clean Water Sources and the Habitats of Small Animals in the Tea Plantations

The name Dancing reflects a commitment to the land: by avoiding pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and herbicides, the tea plantations allow plants and animals to thrive and move freely. The gift set was inspired by the Feitsui Reservoir water source protection area in Pinglin District, New Taipei City, where frequent rainfall and drifting mists envelop the landscape. Strict restrictions on land development have helped preserve the area’s distinctive and largely unspoiled natural environment.

The design team chose “Rainy Tea Mountains” as its theme, incorporating images of protected wildlife found in the tea plantations—including the emerald green tree frog, pangolin, Taiwan blue magpie, crab-eating mongoose, and small Indian civet—along with ferns. Together, these elements portray a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem. The packaging is simple yet elegant, using natural, unpretentious materials such as cotton cardstock and kraft paper, allowing the gift box itself to convey the values behind the product. By enjoying a cup of tea produced in harmony with nature, we help protect clean water sources and safeguard the habitats of the small animals living in the tea plantations.

The gift set features two teas characteristic of Pinglin: Pouchong tea and black tea. Both are sourced from contract-grown tea plantations, with fresh tea leaves purchased at guaranteed prices that reflect the lower yields and additional costs associated with organic farming. By purchasing this tea, consumers do more than simply buy tea; they also help protect the water resources that supply six million people and preserve an invaluable ecosystem. With its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dancing is also an excellent choice for corporate ESG procurement and festive gifting.

To date, TOAF has helped expand organic tea cultivation in Pinglin from an initial five hectares managed by one farming household to approximately 57 hectares cultivated by 36 farming households, with two agricultural production and marketing groups established. In terms of ecological conservation, TOAF actively encourages farmers to promote biodiversity in organic tea plantations, helping transform these plantations into habitats for wildlife. The foundation also encourages farmers to apply for the Green Conservation Label and adopt wildlife-friendly farming practices to protect local ecosystems.

This international recognition not only reaffirms the quality of the tea but also serves as an important stepping stone for Taiwanese organic tea brands seeking to enter international markets. Looking ahead, Ching Yuan Tea will continue to draw inspiration from tea to share the story of the sustainable ecosystems of Taiwan’s mountains and water sources with the world.