Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES)

The Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES), formerly known as Taiwan Tea Experiment Station (TTES) is a governmental organization for tea that covers all tea production in Taiwan. This highly respected organization helps farmers optimize their production whilst maintaining a balance between nature. It also oversees the scientific research of the Taiwanese tea industry and is specifically charged with: improvement of cultivation & processing technology & education.

Taiwanese tea is reputed to be the best in the world. This is due in part to the government's emphasis on protecting the islands unique flora, wildlife, and fauna, and hence limiting the areas of valuable mountainous land devoted to tea plantations. In fact, instead of encouraging mass industrialized farming, as practiced throughout the rest of the world, the Taiwanese government, through TRES, has devoted its attention to the production of small batches of highly specialized teas. This helps maintain the independence and livelihoods of thousands of smallholders and associated businesses.

You’ll find a list of examples of the TRES cultivar in the following table. Each TRES cultivar is a unique result from cross-cultivar cultivation and each taste is different. Please note that the Oolong teas are partially fermented (oxidized) where-as the black teas are fully fermented.

Scientific Journal Linking Oolong Tea to Health published on United Nations web site.