There are people who value the quality of the tea more than the health benefits that it provides. These tea types are very rare and the leaves and roots where they come from are hard to harvest and its limited quantity ingredients and the impactful effect on the body is what makes them valuable. Here are 15 of the most expensive teas in the world.
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Da Hong Pao Tea
Translated as the “Big Red Robe”, this Chinese Oolong Tea takes the number one spot in being the most expensive tea in the world. Da Hong Pao trees grow in the mountains of Wuyi China and only six mother trees are left in this period. It is said that this type of tea variety holds significant medicinal benefits and it cures almost the gravest diseases. Da Hong Pao Tea is one of the most expensive tea as it is sold at 1,400 dollars per gram but the government of China made it a vow to protect the trees by naming Da Hong Pao as a national treasure thus production of this type of tea is a secret and it is controlled and strictly guarded by the officials. Get Yours Here!
Da Hong Pao is also commonly used as a gift to high-ranked politicians, honorable people, and celebrities.
Tien Guan Yin Tea
Among the most expensive tea in the world is the renowned Tien Guan Yin which also came from China, specifically in the province of Fujian. The name itself means Goddess of Mercy and it is currently priced at $3,000 per kilo, making this one of the most expensive tea in the world. It has a rich chestnut flavor and is fermented carefully by combining black and green teas. What’s special about this tea is that you can infuse it several times – at least 7 times – and you can still taste its sweet dark flavor. But take in mind that boiling and brewing of this tea takes a long time to get that heavenly odor, color, and taste. Get Yours Here!
Poo(s) Poo Pu-Erh Tea
Poo(s) Poo Pu-Erh Tea is one of the most expensive teas, similar to civet coffee, this tea is made with insect waste. The process of making this tea is very meticulous – farmers handpick the insect’s poop and use tweezers to segregate them one by one. This is mostly sought out too in the medical field because of its impressive healing properties. The tea is said to cure high cholesterol, the high glucose level in the blood, and it also elevates the production of melatonin in our bodies which is important when it comes to sleep regulation. These factors plus the fact that it is made from fecal matter are the reasons why this tea is one of the most expensive teas in the market.
Tienchi Flower Tea
Another rare type of tea, Tienchi Flower has similar attributes to Ginseng. The flower is very unique in the sense that it only blooms once every three years and it grows in the province of Yunnan in China, the limited supply of the flowers makes it one of the most expensive teas. In traditional Chinese Medicine, Tienchi Flower tea is used as a treatment for inflammation, migraine, insomnia, diabetes, and gastritis. The taste is similar to American Ginseng Tea, not too harsh with its sweetness and bitter flavor and very soothing in the mouth and stomach.
Gyokuro
Gyokuro stands for Jade Dew and this tea shrub is commonly found on the grounds of Uji District in Japan. Based on its name, this tea creates a vibrant color when infused and it resembles the pale green hues of the Jadestone. Two weeks before harvest, Japanese farmers make sure that they are properly shaded from sunlight to stimulate the increase of amino acids in the leaves. The delicate process of harvesting is the reason why this is one of the most expensive teas in the world because it makes Gyokuro a beverage that is highly concentrated in nutrients. Get Yours Here!
Panda Tung Tea
Pandas were once on the brink of extinction and with intense push to repopulate, the pandas have now increased in number. The animal alone is very rare making this tea harder to produce, Panda Tung Tea is made from the poop of Pandas. Much like how Kopi luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, as it is made from the poop of the Asian Palm Civet, it is reasonable why Panda Tung Tea is on the most expensive tea list in the world.
Sold at $200 per cup, Panda Tung Tea specializes in gaining the nutrients from the excrements. Pandas only consume wild bamboos and they only absorb 30% of the vitamins and minerals it provides and while the other 70% is released through fecal matter. Instead of going to waste, herbalists translated the poop into a tea variety to maximize the remaining 70% of nutrients from the wild bamboos.
Silver Tips Imperial Tea
Silver Tips Imperial Tea is an organic Darjeeling pure whole leaf black tea that originated from India. The Darjeeling flavor is hard to replicate. That’s why this tea type is hailed as the “Champagne of Teas”. It is harvested by the people of Makaibari and the trees are only found in the Himalayan region. Because of its rarity, the leaves are plucked during the full moon season only and special rituals are performed during the night of harvest. Makaibiri people pray for the leaves to sustain the genuineness of its aroma and taste. The ritual is exhibited in public and it already became a must-see attraction for the tourists.
Narcissus Wuyi Oolong Tea
A lot of people admire this type of tea because of the vintage vibes it gives. Like wine, this type of Oolong Tea from China ages very well. The tea plant is kept in a box for 50 years before being consumed by people around the world and it is valued at $6,500 per kilogram. Many collectors and tea-enthusiasts sought for this type of tea plant because of the exotic flavor it gives. The leaves are heavily oxidized giving a taste that is a combination of chocolate, wood, and nuts. Get Yours Here!
Yellow Gold Tea Buds
Real 24-carat gold is coated on the harvested tea leaves for extra health benefits. The tea plants hail from Singapore and it is only plucked once a year. The gold that is sprayed on the leaves contributes to preventing diabetes and it also facilitates weight loss. Expecting mothers also consume this type of tea because it strengthens both the mother and baby’s immunity system. A kilogram of this tea plant is sold at $1,000.
PG White Tips Diamond Tea Bag
Mass-produced by Unilever UK, each teabag is incorporated 280 pieces of a real diamond and full of Silver White Tea Tips – this type of Darjeeling Oolong Tea is the most expensive tea in the world. It is produced to honor the 75th anniversary of Brooke Bond’s PG Tips, the company that designed the teabag, it is limited and not commonly sold at any consumer’s market. The teabag is in a triangle form and each side is encrusted with 2.56 carat-diamonds and the string is made of real white gold and adorned with another 80 pieces of diamonds. With all that glamour, one does not need to wonder why this is one of the most expensive teabag.
Gorreana Broken Leaf Tea Bud
Cherished for centuries, there is only one plantation that produces the Gorreana Tea Bud and it is found in mainland Portugal in Europe, making these tea leaves very rare and thus one of the most expensive teas. It was established during the 19th century by the Gago de Camara Family. The tea plant has special needs during cultivation and it includes elevated grounds, lots of sunlight, rainfall with at least 50 inches, and high humidity. What’s unique with this tea plant is that its leaves vary in age, thus each chemical composition, aroma, and taste are different. The process of producing Gorreana is very tedious making it inferior amongst other tea types. The plantation also produces Gorreana in different flavors and they come in Hysson Green Tea, Orange Pekoe Black Tea, and Hysson and Jasmine & Green Tea.
Bai Mudan Tea
Known as Bai Mudan or White Peony, this classic variety of white tea grows in the outskirts of Fujian, China and is considered one of the most expensive teas in the world. The white is slightly oxidized compared to the usual oolong teas of China and the result is very billowing. The leaves are carefully plucked during the harvest season because once the leaves are broken; it loses its cell structure which is essential in oxidation and it is crucial in delivering the sweet aromatic taste of the white tea. The tea leaves are then to be baked to strengthen its honey and fruity scent before dry packing it for distribution. Get Yours Here!
Huang Shang Mao Feng Tea
There are five factors why Huang Shang Mao Feng Tea is highly valued especially by the Chinese: outlook, aroma, color, purity, and degree of dryness. The tea has a long-lasting fragrance and fresh taste that goes on after several infusions. The tea plant is also widely used for skin care as one of its benefits is keeping the skin dehydrated and protected from the sun’s radiation.
Longjing Tea
Translates as the “Dragon Well Tea” in Chinese folklore, is considered as the strongest green tea in the world and is also well known as the King Tea of China – thus why it is included in the list of most expensive teas. The leaves are rubbed against a round bottom cooking pot (wok) to release its tea hair and the temperature it creates from the rubbing enhances the nutty flavor of the tea leaves. A top quality Longjing Tea is sold at approximately 40,000 Chinese Yuan per gram which is around $5,600. Get Yours Here!
Biluochun Green Tea
Bilouchun tea plant is a dry tea that is curly with green and white hair thus making its appearance similar to a snail and it is only picked during the spring season. The tea is included in the Top 10 most valuable tea types in China and most expensive teas in the world because of its high-quality health benefits. Herbalists use this particular type of tea plant to cure decaying teeth and improve blood circulation. This green tea stimulates the serotonin levels inside the body hence making the people who consume this type of tea enhance their thinking skills and progress their work and study efficiency. Get Yours Here!
Getting to drink one of the most expensive teas in the world may be close to impossible to attain in one’s lifetime, the rarity of the flowers and leaves makes them almost impossible to find. They may look like the typical teas we usually drink every day but the process of how it is made and the scarcity of its ingredients is what made them more valuable compared to the commonly consumed tea types. The labor that goes with it is not as simple as we think it is. All the processes are very exquisite and unique and these are the factors that truly make them special and greatly prized by tea-lovers around the world.
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