Gaotai, the plateau above the rift
Full sun, a dry winter wind, and the fastest pick on the island.
Why it is fast
There is almost no shade on the plateau, so the cherries ripen together and the pick happens in one pass instead of three.
One pass is cheaper and less precise: you get a uniform lot rather than a great one.
A dry wind is worth more than a drying machine, and it is free.
The wind
From November the valley pulls a dry wind through, which is why drying works here with less equipment than on the west coast.
It also means the farm smells of dust rather than fruit, which surprises people who expect a coffee farm to smell like a café.
Disclosure: this article contains no affiliate links. Prices and dates checked in October 2026. Our methodology.