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Gong fu is time made visible.
Physicist, Paratrooper, Farmer, The long way back to the tea field.

Chen Yiguo 陳以國

Tea Master  ·  Formosa Phoenix Tea Farm  ·  Mingjian, Nantou


Eight steeps — in order

2001
B.Sc. Physics — Soochow University
Graduated and immediately concluded that the universe operates on principles most people are too impatient to learn.
2001–2003
Airborne Special Forces — Paratrooper
Learned that gravity is not a metaphor.
2003–2006
Kiln Engineer — AGC Taiwan
Three months on-site in Kitakyushu. Mentored by Mazaki Hideki — bearded, precise, infuriating. Introduced to Shu-Ha-Ri without knowing its name.
2006–2007
MSc, Advanced Ceramic Science — University of Sheffield
One year that felt like five.
2007–2011
Advanced Technical Service Engineer — 3M Taiwan
Discovered that every serious person he met had jumped out of a plane at some point.
2011–2013
Sales & Product Manager — Sebelco Belgium
Multinational company, lean Taiwan presence. The whole weight of a European corporation fits into a very small room.
2013–2018
Pastry Chef · Coffee Roaster
Long story. Not relevant. Relevant.
2018 — present
Tea Master — Formosa Phoenix Tea Farm, Ltd.
Third-generation farm. First-generation brand.