10 rare and most expensive tea around the world

Tea, a beverage with a rich history and deep cultural roots, has been cherished for centuries across the globe. Its journey began in ancient China over 5,000 years ago when legend has it that Emperor Shen Nong discovered tea accidentally while boiling water under a tea tree. The resulting infusion quickly gained popularity for its refreshing taste and acclaimed health benefits. From there, tea spread across Asia, becoming an integral part of various cultures and traditions.

Around the 8th century, tea reached Japan, where it evolved into the refined practice of the Japanese tea ceremony. The drink’s allure crossed continents, eventually making its way to Europe in the 16th century through Portuguese and Dutch traders. The British quickly adopted tea, leading to the establishment of the British East India Company and the expansion of tea plantations in India and Sri Lanka.

While most teas are readily accessible and affordable, there exists a select group of teas that stand apart due to their rarity, meticulous production methods, and extraordinary quality. Here are 10 most expensive tea around the world

Da Hong Pao, China

Originating from the Wuyi Mountains in China, Da Hong Pao is an oolong tea well-known for its rich flavour and medicinal properties. The tea is harvested from ancient, nearly extinct Mother trees, of which only six remain on earth. The extreme scarcity of these original trees drives its exorbitant price. A kilogram of this tea cost $1.2 million.

Panda Dung Tea, China

Panda Dung Tea is a green tea from Ya’an in Sichuan, China, and its name is derived from the unique fertilization process involving panda dung. The rationale is that pandas digest only a fraction of the bamboo they eat, leaving nutrient-rich waste that enriches the tea plants. This unique method contributes to the tea’s price of $70,000 per kilogram.

Yellow Gold Tea Buds, Singapore

This luxurious tea is harvested only once a year using gold shears and then sun-dried. The leaves are meticulously adorned with edible 24-carat gold flakes, giving the brew its distinctive golden hue. Known historically as the tea of Chinese emperors, Yellow Gold Tea Buds are sold around $7,800 per kilogram.

Silver Tips Imperial Tea, India

Silver Tips Imperial Tea is harvested from the Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling, India. This tea is made from the youngest buds, picked only during full moon nights, and processed minimally to preserve its delicate flavour. Its rarity and labour-intensive harvest process make it one of the most expensive teas. In an auction in 2014, it was sold at $1,850 per kilogram.

Gyokuro, Japan

Gyokuro, which translates to ‘pearl dew’ or ‘jade dew’ in Japanese, is considered one of the highest-grade green teas in Japan. Cultivated in the Uji district, Gyokuro tea requires a unique harvesting process where the plants are grown under the shade of straw mats for four weeks. This shading technique helps the plant retain L-theanine amino acid, which heightens the tea’s umami flavours. First discovered by Kahei Yamamoto VI in 1835, one kilogram of Gyokuro tea costs approximately $650.

Pu’erh Tea, China

Originally invented in the 18th century, Pu’erh tea is considered the oldest, most refined, and one of the most expensive teas, sold at a massive price tag of approximately $10,000 per kilogram. This tea, primarily grown in the Yunnan province in Southwest China, is known for its earthy flavour and numerous health benefits, including weight management, cholesterol reduction, and improved gut health. Pu’erh tea is usually sold in the form of tea cakes, which can be brewed to savour these health benefits. The tea leaves undergo microbial fermentation, and some of the trees from which Pu’erh is harvested are thousands of years old.

Vintage Narcissus Wuyi Oolong, China

Named after the Greek legend of Narcissus, this rare oolong tea is grown and harvested in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian province, China, and the PingLin tea area in Taiwan. The tea has wooden and chocolatey flavour with a subtle hint of floral and fruity notes. It has an intense aroma and costs around $6,500 per kilogram. The tea improves with age, and every two years it goes through a firing process to remove moisture and enhance its flavour.

Tieguanyin, China

Tieguanyin is a premium oolong tea from Anxi in Fujian, China, celebrated for its floral aroma and sweet, creamy flavour is one of the most highly regarded teas in the world. The most exclusive Tieguanyin leaves are hand-processed using traditional methods, which contribute to its high cost. Top-quality varieties cost up to $3,000 per kilogram.

Gao Shan Tea, Taiwan

Also known as High Mountain tea, Gao Shan tea is cultivated in Taiwan’s high-altitude tea gardens, at elevations exceeding 1,000 metres. The combination of high humidity, altitude, thin air, and an intricate fermentation process results in Gao Shan Tea being sold at $250 per kilogram.

Tienchi Flower Tea, China

Sold at $170 per kilogram, Tienchi flower tea is one of the market’s most valuable teas, celebrated for its healing properties and unique flavour. This tea is gotten from the flowers of Panax Notoginseng, which bloom in Yunnan Province, China, only once every three years. Tienchi flower tea offers a sweet and minty taste with a ginseng-like aroma when brewed. Regular consumption is believed to alleviate insomnia, increase oxygen levels, combat inflammation, and detoxify the body.