Currently, there are 20,000 ha of tea farms in Taiwan, mainly distributed in Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Hwalien and I- lan counties.  Tea  production  amounted to 21,000 tons in 1996.  The  tea industry in Taiwan was export-oriented in the past. Tea exports reached a high  record  of  23,000  tons  in 1973.  Tea exports  were on the decline over the years. Tea exports were 3,475 tons in 1996. However, tea imports have increased to 7,365 tons in 1996. The sustainable increase of domestic consumption is due to economic prosperity and the rising level of living standards as well as to the increasing consumption.

            The planted area in Taiwan was on the decline in the past decade, from 29,315 ha in 1982 to 21,223 ha in 1996. It was because of the reduction in tea exports and the transformation of tea fields for other purposes. The tea production in Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties have thus been reduced on a large scale.  Even so,  the  number  of  tea  fields  in central Taiwan,  such as in Nantou,  Chiayi  and  Yunlin  counties,  are  increasing  since  their high - quality tea has stimulated considerable consumption. The tea industry in Taiwan can still maintain a high annual output of 21,000 tons.