Introduction
Tea, a beverage enjoyed worldwide, has a rich history and holds many health benefits. From combating colds to lowering the risk of certain cancers, tea has been revered for its medicinal properties for centuries. In addition to its health benefits, tea also serves as a bonding ritual in many cultures, bringing people together over a warm cup of this aromatic drink.
Tea originated more than 2,000 years ago when Empress Shen Nong of China accidentally brewed the first cup of tea by stirring tea leaves into boiling water. Most tea leaves are grown in Asia, particularly in countries like China, India, and Sri Lanka. These regions produce some of the most expensive and luxurious teas in the world, cultivated from rare plants that result in exorbitant prices.
There are four main categories of tea – black, green, oolong, and white. Each type has its unique characteristics and flavors, with various varieties falling under these categories. Now, let’s delve into the world of tea and explore the 13 most expensive teas globally.
Tianchi Flower Tea
Tianchi Flower Tea, priced at $75 per pound, is cultivated in the Yunnan province of China. The tea leaves come from the flowers of the Panax notto Ginseng, which only grow every three years. This tea boasts healing properties, such as eliminating toxins, fighting inflammation, and boosting oxygen levels in the body. With a minty yet sweet flavor profile, Tianchi Flower Tea is one of the most reasonably priced luxury teas available.
High Mountain Tea
High Mountain Tea, priced at $113 per pound, is grown at altitudes higher than 3,200 feet in Taiwan. The high elevation tea gardens provide optimal conditions to harvest these oolong tea leaves. The elaborate fermentation process results in a high fragrance, full-flavor tea with notes of milkiness and a sweet, floral aroma.
Goryana Broken Leaf Black Tea
Goryana Broken Leaf Black Tea, priced at $184 per pound, is cultivated in the Assam District of India. Made from specific leaves of the Camellia sinensis atamica plants, this tea offers a fruity aroma and a light copper color. Grown in a moist, warm climate, the third leaf of the plant is used to produce this exquisite black tea.
Goku Roli
Goku Roli, priced at $295 per pound, is a high-grade green tea from Japan. Cultivated in the Uji district, this tea undergoes a unique shading process to enhance its flavor. With notes of nuttiness, buttered popcorn, and roasted chestnuts, Goku Roli is one of the most affordable luxurious green teas available.
Poo Poo Pu-Erh
Poo Poo Pu-Erh, priced at $435 per pound, is a delicacy produced in the Yunnan province of China. Made from droppings of insects that feed on tea leaves, this tea is considered a unique beverage with healing properties. Despite its unconventional production method, Poo Poo Pu-Erh is a popular choice among tea enthusiasts.
Silver Tips Imperial Darjeeling Tea
Silver Tips Imperial Darjeeling Tea, priced at $850 per pound, is grown in the Darjeeling province of India. Harvested at high altitudes in the Himalayas, this tea offers a complex taste with notes of frangipani and sweet mango. The tea leaves, picked only on full moon nights, have a light golden color and a subtle fruity aroma.
Ninti
Ninti, priced at $1,500 per pound, is an oolong tea grown in the Fushian province of China. Known for its floral aroma and distinct nutty taste, Ninti tea leaves are sun-dried to achieve a bright golden color and crispy texture. With its rare properties, Ninti is a prized luxury tea offering.
Vintage Narcissus Oolong Tea
Vintage Narcissus Oolong Tea, priced at $3,250 per pound, is produced in the Wuyi Shan mountains of China. With a heavily oxidized process, this tea offers a woodsy, chocolatey flavor with nutty and floral undertones. Known for its unique taste, Vintage Narcissus Oolong Tea is among the most expensive teas globally.
Yellow Gold Tea
Yellow Gold Tea, priced at $3,545 per pound, is a rare and luxurious tea sold only in Singapore. Harvested once a year, this tea features buds coated with 24K edible gold flakes, offering a unique floral metallic aftertaste. Known for its anti-aging benefits, Yellow Gold Tea is a coveted beverage among tea connoisseurs.
Da Hong Pao
Da Hong Pao, priced at $600,000 per pound, is the most expensive black tea in the world. Harvested from plants in the Wuyi mountains for over 300 years, Da Hong Pao embodies the true essence of luxury tea. With notes of mineral, earthy flavors, and a lively finish, this tea is a symbol of opulence and refinement.
Related Questions
1. What are the health benefits of drinking tea?
– Tea offers various health benefits, including combating cold and flu symptoms, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and promoting brain health.
2. Why are some teas considered luxury beverages?
– Luxury teas are often cultivated from rare plants, undergo elaborate production processes, and offer unique flavor profiles, making them highly sought after and expensive.
3. How does the shading process impact the flavor of green tea?
– The shading process used for green tea cultivation enhances the flavor by retaining l-theanine amino acids, resulting in nutty, buttered popcorn, and roasted chestnut notes.
4. What makes Da Hong Pao the most expensive black tea?
– Da Hong Pao is harvested from plants that have grown in the Wuyi mountains for over 300 years, resulting in a tea with unique mineral and earthy flavors, making it a symbol of luxury.
5. What is the significance of the full moon in the harvesting of Silver Tips Imperial Darjeeling Tea?
– Silver Tips Imperial Darjeeling Tea is picked only on nights with a full moon, believed to enhance the tea’s aroma and flavor, adding a subtle fruity note to the luxurious tea.