A Sensory Journey into the Heart of Taiwanese Teas

From May 5 to 9, 2025, an exceptional workshop took place in Taiwan, entirely dedicated to exploring the aromas of the country’s teas. Organized by the Tea Research and Extension Station of the Ministry of Agriculture, this event brought together both local and international experts, including Carine Baudry, a French aroma specialist, founder of La QuintEssence, and president of the AVPA Tea Jury.

For five days, participants immersed themselves in the sensory world of Taiwan’s iconic teas, high mountain oolongs, honey-scented black teas, Oriental Beauty, Biluochun, and more.

The goal? To create a shared language to describe tea aromas, in order to better communicate their richness and subtlety.

Combining scientific insight and sensory expertise, the workshop laid the groundwork for an innovative tool designed to understand, describe, and highlight the unique aromatic profiles of each tea.

Guided by Carine Baudry and Taiwanese researchers, participants learned to identify key aromas, floral, fruity, honeyed notes, as well as less desirable ones such as smoke or fermentation. They then worked on developing typical aromatic profiles for each tea, with the aim of supporting producer training, quality improvement, and ultimately the creation of a sensory certification for Taiwanese teas.

This workshop contributes to strengthening the international recognition of Taiwanese teas, by shedding light on their aromatic richness through a shared sensory language. Taiwan thus affirms its identity in the global tea landscape while celebrating the craftsmanship of its producers.

Carine Baudry will continue this collaboration through Taiwan’s International Tea License Program. AVPA is proud to support this inspiring initiative, which honors both the beauty and complexity of the world’s finest teas.