When it comes to Yilan tea, many people's first reaction is the high-mountain tea from Fushoushan and Dayuling, or the "General's Tea" from Sanxing Township. These are certainly classics, but today I want to take you down a different path—a few tea spaces with personality, with stories, that you can only find in Yilan.
I'm not the kind of blogger who just writes about the classic tea shops again. Over the past few years, I've been rushing around, and some shops I've visited three or more times before I dared to write a recommendation. They may not be the most famous, but they're definitely the kind of places where if you take a friend, they'll ask "How did you discover this?"
## Top Pick: Black House Coffee
What first attracted me to Pinglen was its black corrugated iron exterior, looking like a spaceship that had landed in the middle of a rice paddy. At the time, not many people were writing about them, and I just thought this family was really brave—not running a traditional tea business.
Later I learned that Black House is one of the few shops taking both estate specialty coffee and local tea seriously. Their tea isn't just for show; they genuinely source beans from small-scale farmers and do their own roasting. Their signature Lishan Oolong Cold Brew at NT$180 has a distinct floral note, not that sweetened kind of sweetness you get from added sugar. The space design is carefully considered—floor-to-ceiling windows, lighting, plants—every corner looks like something you'd see on Instagram.
They close at six o'clock, and weekends are often fully booked, so booking is advisable. They don't accept regular phone bookings—you need to reserve through the inline system. Many people complain about this, but I think it filters out people who just want to join the hype to some extent.
Address: No. 9-1, Pocheng Road, Pingshan Village, Yuanshan Township, Yilan County
## For Old Souls: Yi Jia Tang
If what you love is a converted old building with a sense of history, Yi Jia Tang is definitely the answer. They're in an alley near Luodong Night Market, with no conspicuous sign—you could easily walk past it and miss it.
The ground floor is a tea display area; the seating area is on the second floor. The owner is local and worked at a tea shop in Taipei for a long time before returning to Yilan to open a shop for no other reason than to bring that "tea at home" feeling in. There's no flamboyant décor—just genuine tea wares and a casual "come sit at my place" atmosphere.
Their tea menu is simple—oolong, black tea, and aged tea that rotate—each day might be different. I should be clear about this upfront; if you're used to the fixed menus of chain shops, you might find it unfamiliar. But it's exactly this uncertainty that makes every visit a surprise. What I'd most recommend is their secret "Grandma's Black Tea," NT$120, with a noticeable herbal note and sweet aftertaste—you usually need to call ahead to reserve it.
Opening hours: 13:00-21:00, closed on Wednesdays.
Address: No. 12, Lane 179, Section 3, Zhongshan Road, Luodong Township, Yilan County
## Young People's New Tea Choice: Grass Store
In recent years, Taiwan's younger generation's view of tea has changed a lot—it's no longer the stuff their dads used to make. Grass Store is the one that first caught on among young people in Yilan.
They work on the concept of "tea and life"—it's not just about selling tea, but making tea more approachable. Their main focus is the convenient ready-to-drink cold brew tea series; the bottled design is attractive, making it suitable for gifts or for drinking yourself. Particularly interesting is their "tea subscription"—pay NT$699 per month and receive three different teas each month, complete with brewing suggestions. This is very friendly for those who want to start but don't know where to begin.
The physical shop is near the old market in Yilan City, surrounded by several independent coffee shops—perfect for a wander. Grass Store's location is right in the comfortable radius for young people—not as serious as traditional tea shops. They also hold experience workshops, like handmade soap with tea seed oil—for those interested, do follow their Instagram.
Opening hours: 10:00-19:00
Address: No. 233, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Yilan City, Yilan County
## Personal Recommendation: Yi Jing Tea Space
Finally, this one is my personal hidden gem—not many people know about it, but locals do.
Yi Jing is in the mountains of Jiaoxi—not a tourist hot spot, but a place run by a couple after they retired. Their philosophy is simple: they don't want complicated marketing; they just want customers to enjoy a proper cup of tea.
What makes it most special is their "tea and food set"—not the flashy kind of plating, but seasonal local ingredients paired with tea. For NT$350, you get a serving of handmade mochi, a plate of brown sugar cake, and a pot of tea brewed on the spot. The space is small and can only accommodate about four groups of guests—but it's exactly this exclusivity that makes every visit feel precious.
They only sell their tea to in-house customers and don't do wholesale—this is quite special and shows they're confident about their quality. They occasionally share different teas, so it's worth calling ahead to ask what's available that day.
Opening hours: 11:00-18:00, by appointment only
Address: Hongludi Road, Shichao Village, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County (route confirmation by phone required)
## Practical Information
Let me give you the general information for these shops first:
Spending is approximately NT$100-400 per person for tea and a snack. Black House has the highest prices, Grass Store is the most approachable, and Yi Jia Tang and Yi Jing are mid-range.
For transport, except for Grass Store which is in the city and accessible by car or scooter, the others all require transport. Black House is in Yuanshan Township, so renting a car is more convenient; Yi Jia Tang is reachable from Luodong Station by taxi for under NT$200; Yi Jing is in the mountains, so driving is recommended.
Opening hours vary greatly—none of these are chain shops, so they may close or adjust at any time. It's recommended to call ahead to confirm before visiting, especially since Yi Jing is entirely appointment-based.
## Shopping Tips
Tea shops in Yilan are quite different from Taipei—many of them are run with a lot of "personality." If you're searching through online rating systems, you might be disappointed, as these shops don't have high review counts, but locals' loyalty is actually higher. My advice is: don't look at the ratings—look at the shop's philosophy and have a chat with the owner. You'll discover much more.
If you want to buy tea as a souvenir, I'd recommend Yi Jia Tang or Grass Store—the former has consistently high-quality tea, and the latter's packaging design is suitable for gifts.
Remember one thing: tea flavours are very personal. If you can, try before you buy rather than ordering just because it's recommended online.
Next time you visit Yilan, don't jostle with everyone at the same Instagram spots. These few lanes and shops are the true nature of Yilan's tea spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
