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Zhongxing New Village has a special charm — its broad roads lined with tall trees, people leisurely cycling, and the air filled with a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. Walking into Hilltea, you feel as though you’ve stepped into another world, one that makes you forget the troubles of everyday life.
The owner, Lai Yue-ling, moved to Zhongxing New Village as a child. Like many young people, after graduation she left for Taipei to pursue her career. Working for an airline, she traveled across seven continents and five oceans, seeing the world — only to realize, in the end, that her hometown was the most beautiful place of all.
The creation of Hilltea is deeply connected to her father. Mr. Lai, once an aluminum window craftsman, was also a talented part-time pastry chef decades ago. His old bakery stood right here in Zhongxing New Village. Today, the shop’s modern café-style design still places tea at its heart — inspired by the warm memories shared between father and daughter.
Under the Arcade — Quiet Tea Time Between Father and Daughter
Back then, after baking cakes every day, her father would sit under the arcade in front of the bakery to brew tea. There was no air conditioning, the lighting was dim, and cars drove by just beside them. At the time, she used to wonder, “Why would anyone want to drink tea in a place like this?”
Later, she realized: “It actually felt wonderful. My dad would brew tea for me and pour me a cup. We didn’t talk much, but that quiet time together felt so warm. Tea has accompanied me ever since.”
Five years ago, when the government opened up the revitalization of old houses in Zhongxing New Village, she saw endless possibilities for returning home to start a business. Wanting to create a beautiful place for her father to enjoy tea, she founded Hilltea — a delightful space combining fine Taiwanese tea and delicious cakes.
From a ceiling full of holes to a cozy, stylish interior; from a deserted street to one now bustling with visitors — the transformation took tremendous effort and heart.
Now This Is Mille Crepe Cake!
I still remember my first visit to Hilltea. After tasting their fresh cream mille crepe cake, I thought to myself, Now this is what mille crepe cake should be! I also ordered tea — the teaware was simple yet practical, and it came with a lovely hand-drawn card introducing each item’s name and use. Such thoughtful details! Even now, whenever I attend the Nantou Tea Expo, I always find myself longing to return.
For their anniversary last year, they even experimented with pairing desserts and Taiwanese tea, taking creative steps in that direction.
Encouraging Guests to Brew Their Own Tea
Unlike many teahouses where staff brew the first pot as a demonstration, Hilltea encourages guests to do everything themselves. “Whether it tastes good or not isn’t the point — if the first brew isn’t perfect, you can adjust the time or temperature next,” says Yue-ling. She hopes customers will learn about tea, appreciate it, and eventually make tea a natural part of their lives.
Some customers bring foreign friends; for others, their first tea-brewing experience happens right here. In today’s fast-paced world, Yue-ling worries that tea culture might fade away. Some of her classmates don’t even know how to use a gaiwan; others feel they “don’t have time” to brew tea in their short breaks. Promoting tea culture, in many ways, stems from a deep love for this heritage — preserving as much as possible while we still can.
Moving Toward Sustainability
Beyond her love for tea, Hilltea also cares deeply about the environment. This year, the teahouse earned a two-star rating from the UK Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good program. They also joined the Green Dining Guide’s Sustainable Dining Pledge, committing to source at least 30% of ingredients locally, organically, and from eco-friendly producers.
Their green actions include donating used tea leaves and fallen leaves to a nearby chicken farm for composting in a vermiculture system, and participating in the Formosan Wildcat Dining Project to support biodiversity.
We look forward to seeing Hilltea continue advancing on the path toward sustainability.
Hilltea
No. 38, Guangming 1st Road, Nantou City, Taiwan
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