Taiwan tea entrepreneurs brew up new twist on tradition

Taipei

CHEAP instant "bubble tea" has become one of Taiwan's best-known culinary exports - now a new wave of entrepreneurs hopes a high-end modern take on traditional brews will also be sipped worldwide.

Taiwan has been producing tea for more than 200 years and a cup of the island's famous oolong is obligatory for many visitors, but exports have been knocked by rising labour costs and bubble tea has eclipsed a carefully crafted cuppa.

Often artificially flavoured and loaded with milk, sugar and tapioca pearls, bubble tea has in recent years gained a global following, from South-east Asia to the United States and Europe.

Ultra-modern tea sh…