Speaking of Alishan, the first things that come to mind aren't bubble tea, but rather the ancient cypress trees, sunrise, and the small train. This forest railway listed as a World Heritage site has an elevation difference of over 1,400 meters, climbing from Chiayi all the way to the 2,200-meter Zhushan Station. Along the way, it passes through diverse forest landscapes from tropical to subtropical to temperate zones. This century-old mountain railway not only carries visitors up the mountain to watch the sunrise, but also connects the unique bubble tea culture of the Alishan region—bubble tea made with high-mountain tea, drunk on the misty station platform, has a special flavor.
Why is Alishan's bubble tea especially delicious? The key lies in the "water" and "tea." High-mountain tea is typically grown at elevations above 1,000 meters, where temperatures fluctuate greatly between day and night, and tea leaves grow slowly, resulting in less bitterness and higher sweetness. The water source used in Alishan tends to be soft (low mineral content), producing tea broth with excellent clarity. When paired with chewy boba, the texture is smoother than bubble tea from the lowlands. Some shops even use local mountain spring water to brew their tea—a uniqueness that's hard to replicate at other night markets in Taiwan. Of course, the high altitude also provides better cooling effect for beverages—drinking an iced bubble tea at 2,200 meters offers a refreshing chill that's impossible to match on the plains.
The Alishan small train still serves as an important transportation method within the area. The section departing from Chiayi Station has been transformed into a "forest railway" tourist train, stopping along the way at Lumachan, Zhuqi, Dulishan, Fenqih, and Shizihu stations, each offering different scenery and stories. It is recommended to plan a one or two-day itinerary, taking the small train up slowly while collecting specialty bubble tea from each station—this is the proper way to experience Alishan bubble tea.
【Recommended Locations】The following five specialty bubble tea shops are distributed along the Alishan Forest Railway, each with its own unique style:
1. Zhuqi Station Area "Grandma's Grocery Store Classic Bubble Tea"
Zhuqi Station is the forest railway station closest to Chiayi City, at an elevation of approximately 200 meters. The shops here are less commercialized than the mountain scenic area. Grandma's Grocery Store is a local establishment over 40 years old. The owner insists on hand-shaking their bubble tea the traditional way—the milk tea isn't made by machine, but shaken and tossed by hand in a Boston shaker, which allegedly creates more bubbles for a richer taste. The boba is homemade, not factory-supplied, with a subtlelongan sweetness. At just 35 yuan per cup, it's the most affordable classic bubble tea in the Alishan area. Drinking it on the platform while watching the small train slowly pull in creates a wonderful railway travel atmosphere.
2. Beside Fenqih Lake "Tianzhao Tea's Alishan Oolong Bubble Tea"
Fenqih Lake is the midpoint station of the Alishan Forest Railway, famous for its train bento (boxed meals) and serving as the stop where most tourists transfer. Tianzhao Tea is located at the entrance of Fenqih Old Street, and their signature "Alishan Oolong Bubble Tea" uses high-mountain oolong tea grown in Alishan—rich in tea flavor but not bitter. The boba is larger and softer, offering a satisfying suction texture. What makes this shop special is their addition of handmade "grass jelly" (aiyu)—made from wild grass jelly seeds found in Alishan, which is more natural than what you can buy commercially, with a subtle grassy fragrance. The owner explains that high-mountain tea becomes bitter if steeped too long, so they extract the tea within 30 seconds—a detail that chain stores cannot replicate. Prices range between 55-65 yuan.
3. Shizihu Station "Pangolin Coffee's Forest-style Bubble Tea"
Shizihu Station is a highlight of the Alishan Forest Railway—this is where the ancient cypress tree groves are most concentrated, at an elevation of approximately 1,800 meters, with year-round temperatures more than 10 degrees cooler than the plains. Pangolin Coffee is a newer shop that opened recently. The owner is a young person who returned to Alishan from Taipei, hoping to bring specialty coffee craftsmanship to the mountains. Their "Railway Latte" uses Jin Xuan tea grown by local Alishan farmers, combined with hand-whipped milk foam, creating a delicate milky layer on top with adjustable sweetness. Their "Forest Bubble Tea" concept incorporates wild chrysanthemums from high altitudes into the tea—the subtle floral fragrance pairs well with boba, perfect for sipping while walking through the 1,800-meter forest. At 80-100 yuan, the price is on the higher side, but the quality justifies the cost. The shop contains many historical documents and materials about the Alishan small train; the owner loves sharing railway stories, making this a must-visit spot for railway enthusiasts.
4. Zhushan Station "Zhushan's Mist Bubble Tea"
Zhushan Station is the terminus of the Alishan Railway, at an elevation of 2,451 meters—the highest train station in Taiwan and a famous spot for watching the sunrise. While waiting for the train before sunrise, you'll often see mist floating past the platform, as if standing on clouds. The vending area inside Zhushan Station previously only sold bottled water and snacks; only in recent years have they started selling bubble tea. Their signature "Mist Bubble Tea" uses cold-high-altitude Jin Xuan oolong from Alishan, with notably sweeter tea flavor and obvious returning sweetness, paired with brown sugar boba that doesn't leave a sour aftertaste. Due to the extreme altitude where water boils at only 93 degrees, the boba cooking method here is different—they must use a pressure cooker to fully cook the boba, a completely different approach from lowland methods. At 45 yuan per cup, drinking a hot bubble tea at this altitude instantly warms the body, making it the perfect companion for watching the sunrise.
5. Inside Alishan Forest Recreation Area "God's Wood Guesthouse Handcrafted Bubble Tea"
God's Wood Guesthouse inside the Alishan Forest Recreation Area is a seasoned establishment. Previously, they only served tea to hotel guests, but in recent years after opening to the public, they've launched their "God's Wood Signature Bubble Tea." They use higher-grade Dongding oolong than what's available on the market, and only use the first steep of tea broth—they discard the second steep because the owner says too much tannin in the second steep can make the bubble tea bitter. Their boba is caramelized with brown sugar, giving a caramel aroma, paired with a rich milk tea base—perfect for those planning to hike trails around Shizinan and Shoujen Temple. At 60 yuan per cup, it's mid-to-high priced, but drinking this quality tea in the forest makes it well worth it.
【Practical Information】
*Transportation*: Take the Alishan Forest Small Train from Chiayi Station, and you can stop at any station along the route. The forest small train operates several daily round trips. It is recommended to check the schedule in advance on the "Alishan Forestry Railway" website. For self-driving, you can park at the Fenqih Parking Lot and then transfer to a local train to continue up the mountain.
*Price Range*: Bubble tea in the Alishan area costs approximately NT$35-100, slightly higher than chain stores on the plains. However, due to the advantage of using high-mountain tea leaves and water quality, you get what you pay for.
*Business Hours*: Each shop has different operating hours; it is recommended to visit after 10 AM when more shops are open.
*Best Experience Time*: The most atmospheric time is from 6 AM to 9 AM at Zhushan Station, drinking bubble tea while waiting for sunrise. The lighting after 3 PM is best for photography, and drinks won't melt too quickly.
【Travel Tips】
The biggest difference between Alishan bubble tea and bubble tea on the plains is "tea leaf quality" and "water quality." High-mountain tea inherently has better returning sweetness. Many out-of-town visitors say "it's less sweet but tastes better than city bubble tea"—this is actually because the tea leaves themselves have sufficient depth of flavor, so there's no need to rely on large amounts of fructose to mask the tea's bitterness. If you don't have a sweet tooth, ordering "half sugar" or "less sugar" will better allow you to appreciate the value of high-mountain tea.
Additionally, Alishan has a significant temperature difference. Even in summer, bring a light jacket when going up the mountain. It's best to drink your bubble tea within 30 minutes—melting ice will dilute the tea concentration. Food doesn't store well at high altitudes, so boba is cooked fresh daily. Occasionally, you may encounter sold-out situations. It is recommended to arrive early or call ahead to check with the shop.
