Rock Rhyme Tea is a packaging design for Wuyi Rock Tea, a Chinese oolong tea. The design is inspired by tea plants growing in cliff crevices. Rock grey textures are combined with Song Dynasty woodblock elements and modern brushstrokes. The set includes tea canisters, a cold-brew bottle series and a booklet that explains the twelve-step traditional craft. Lightweight materials imitate the look of real rock, while inner canisters use moisture-proof and light-blocking materials. Hand-woven hemp rope carriers recall twisted tea leaves. The packaging suits both home storage and travel.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This project reinterprets Wuyi Rock Tea through youthful packaging. Inspired by tea growing in cliff crevices, the design combines "rock gray" textures with Song Dynasty woodblock elements and modern brushstrokes. This fusion transforms traditional high-end tea into a trendy brand, bridging generations. The set includes tea canisters and a booklet detailing the "12-step craft." The concept extends to a refreshing cold-brew series, offering modern consumers a diverse drinking experience.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Large Gift Box: 295 mm x 170 mm x 110 mm
Travel Set Box: 67 mm x 57 mm x 215 mm
Large Tea Canister: 75 mm x 75 mm x 100 mm
Travel Tea Canister: 50 mm x 50 mm x 50 mm
Cold Brew Bottle: 62 mm x 62 mm x 163 mm
Booklet: 113 mm x 30 mm x 198 mm - Tags
- Rock, Rock Tea, Packaging, Gift, Gen Z, Chinese
- Production Technology
- The gift boxes and tea canisters are made from lightweight materials that simulate the appearance of real rock. To preserve the tea, the inner canisters and cold-brew bottles use moisture-proof and light-blocking materials. For the carriers, we hand-wove hemp ropes to mimic the twisted texture of traditional rock tea leaves. This design combines traditional handcraft with modern material technology to ensure both aesthetics and functionality.
- Design Challenge
- To move away from traditional tea canister designs, we challenged ourselves to make the packaging look like real rocks while overcoming mass production limits. We used lightweight materials to achieve this heavy stone appearance. Additionally, we had to ensure that the hand-woven hemp rope carriers were functional and strong enough for daily use.
- Project Duration
- The project started in December 2025 in Taiwan and finished in March 2026 in Taiwan, and was exhibited in Young Designers' Exhibition (YODEX) in May 2026 in Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- The gift set uses a simple top-and-bottom lid structure. To access the tea, users lift the main cover to find two large canisters for long-term storage and one small canister for single-use outdoor brewing. All tea canisters feature sealed lids that are opened by pulling the top cover. For immediate drinking, the cold-brew series uses a standard twist-cap bottle. This design allows users to easily switch between home storage and on-the-go convenience.
- Research
- This research employs a multi-dimensional approach to cultural and market repositioning. By analyzing the 12-step traditional tea-making process alongside semi-structured interviews with a 20-person youth demographic, we identified a significant generational aesthetic gap. Our findings revealed that 85% of target users desired a fusion of historical heritage and modern convenience. Consequently, this project strategically utilizes sensory innovation and youthful visual languages to transform an ancient cultural asset into a commercially viable, high-growth lifestyle product for the global market.
- Inspiration
- This project is inspired by Rock Tea growing in cliff crevices. As a type of Chinese Oolong tea, our goal is to attract young consumers through youthful packaging, bridging the gap between tea culture and the new generation. Based on research into the 12-step traditional craft and modern tea trends, we transformed rugged rock textures into a contemporary gift experience for the youth market.
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Photographer Esther Leau, Rockrhyme Tea, 2026.
Image #2 : Photographer Esther Leau, Rockrhyme Tea, 2026.
Image #3 : Photographer Esther Leau, Rockrhyme Tea, 2026.
Image #4 : Photographer Yu Hsin Tseng, Rockrhyme Tea, 2026.
Image #5 : Photographer Yu Hsin Tseng, Rockrhyme Tea, 2026. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Yu Hsin Tseng, Chih Shan Huang, Yung Chia Wang, Ling An Huang, Esther Leau, 2026.
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