Taiwan Insight

From Poppies to Tea Gardens: How Taiwan’s Tea Took Root on Thailand’s Northern Borderland

Written by Po-Yi Hung. Taiwan’s tea is often associated with its mountain landscapes, but its influence extends far beyond the island. This article traces how Taiwanese tea varieties, cultivation techniques, and agricultural expertise transformed the former opium-growing borderlands of northern Thailand. It reveals tea as more than an agricultural commodity, as a vehicle of diplomacy, territorial governance, and cross-border mobility that quietly reshaped the Golden Triangle.

When Tea Becomes Everything (Part 2)

Written by Gawin Tiansuwan. In Part 2, the author follows a deeper immersion into tea culture, spanning Canada, Thailand, and Taiwan. A life-changing move to Taipei to study Mandarin leads to a deep connection with Taiwan’s tea community, historic neighbourhoods, and a young master in Pinglin. Using these Taiwanese tea-making insights, he returns to Northern Thailand to help revitalising local wild tea traditions.

When Tea Becomes Everything (Part 1)

Written by Gawin Tiansuwan. In Part 1, the author traces a personal journey of self-discovery through tea. Moving from Western blends in the UK to traditional gongfu cha in Hong Kong, the author explores how tea provided stability during burnout. Crucially, an inspiring trip to Taiwan’s iconic teahouses sparked a lifelong passion, prompting the purchase of his first Yixing teapot and ultimately bridging a connection to his ethnic heritage.

From Poppies to Tea Gardens: How Taiwan’s Tea Took Root on Thailand’s Northern Borderland

13 July 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

When Tea Becomes Everything (Part 2)

10 July 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

When Tea Becomes Everything (Part 1)

9 July 2026 NGA Shi Yeu

Freedom and Forgetting: The Cheng Nan-jung Paradox in Taiwan’s Democracy

8 July 2026 Adrian Chiu

Written by Meng Kit Tang. The article examines how Cheng Nan-jung, now commemorated as a martyr of free speech, was once violently rejected by the opposition movement that later claimed his ideals. It argues that this episode is a test of democratic credibility. By placing the 1987 incident alongside present-day political rhetoric, the piece highlights the risks of selective remembrance in a maturing democracy.

More Than a Meal: What Taiwanese Food Tells Us About Identity and Memory

7 July 2026 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Ming-yeh T. Rawnsley. This article explores how food functions as a cultural language in Taiwan through three works: Eat Drink Man Woman, Zone Pro Site, and Taiwan Travelogue. It argues that food expresses family ties, community traditions, colonial encounters, and cultural hybridity, offering a compelling lens for understanding Taiwanese identity and memory.

Why Taiwan Matters More Than Ever for India’s Indo-Pacific Outlook

6 July 2026 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Jagannath Panda. The article argues that India should view Taiwan as a strategic Indo–Pacific partner beyond the lens of China or semiconductors. By deepening cooperation in technology, supply chains, digital infrastructure, and democratic governance, India, Taiwan, and like-minded regional partners can build a more resilient, economically secure, and strategically autonomous Indo-Pacific.

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