The Ankeng Village in Sanxia District has taken ecological conservation as the core concept of the community for years. They tend to create a pollution-free environment and make fireflies live there. Every April and May, fireflies can be seen everywhere in the tea garden from time to time, just like in the nursery rhyme “hué-kim-koo lâi kah tê (meaning fireflies come to drink tea in Taiwanese).” Chiu-Wei Li, the village chief, worked with local organic tea farmers to establish the organic tea named “Hué-Kim-Koo Tea,” symbolizing the pollution-free environment and promoting Ankeng organic tea.
Ankeng in the Sanxia District, formerly known as “Xiao Ankeng,” is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Due to the residents and the chief’s insistence on an organic and friendly environment, a pollution-free and light-hazardous environment have been created. Fireflies can be seen in the tea garden every April and May. Chief Chiu-Wei Li heard that excessive use of pesticides in tea gardens would damage the local ecology. For the sake of ecological conservation and the health of the people in Ankeng, he left his stable job at the time. He joined seven local organic tea gardens to create an organic and friendly environment brand “Hué-Kim-Koo Tea (Organic Honey Scented Tea).”
At first, they were not used to the organic cultivation operation mode, especially in the weeding operation. Manual weeding was labor-intensive and time-consuming because no chemical herbicides were used. Later, through the guidance of the Tea Research and Extension Station and Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation among local organic tea farmers, the cultivation scale of Hué-Kim-Koo Tea is nearly one hectare. Hué-Kim-Koo Tea is mainly made from the unique tea Chin-Shin-Ganzai of Sanxia, and the floral and fruity aroma Bi-Lo-Chung, into Honey Scented Black Tea. Besides cooperating with the farmer’s association, the team works with National Taipei University to sell Hué-Kim-Koo Tea in Let’s Eat Naturally Shop. Chiu-Wei Li said that promoting Sanxia Xiao Ankeng’s tea brand can attract young people to return to their hometown, join the organic tea industry, and enhance the value of farming products.
The Agriculture Department said the most challenging process in promoting organic agriculture is to grow from scratch. The Agriculture Department looks for farmers willing to engage in organic agriculture, assisting in matchmaking counseling and verification. It provides subsidies for materials and production facilities, hoping to implement sustainable development of the environment and ecology. The New Taipei City government encourages young people and farmers to join the organic farming industry. They can apply to the farmers’ association for subsidies for land lease, verification, organic fertilizers, machinery, and greenhouse facilities to reduce the burden. To taste organically grown Hué-Kim-Koo Tea, please contact the Sanxia District Farmers’ Association at (02) 2663-1214 or buy it at the “Let’s Eat Naturally Shop” Facebook fan page.
More Information:
Agriculture Department, New Taipei City Government Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Management Section Fu-Ling Yu / Chief Tel: 2960-3456 * 2980 Mobile: 0919-205-606