Top 5 Most Expensive Teas In The World

So I was wondering today that there are so many types of tea in the world but then a thought hit me, what are the most expensive ones and obviously my query led me to google and i found a lot of search links but I’ve narrowed it down to these, most regarded expensive teas, pretty crazy if you ask me!

1. Yellow Gold Tea Buds – AUD 131.52  for 50 grams
   Now, this glistening tea is only sold in Singapore, so if you’re not from there – or planning a trip there anytime soon – you’re out of luck. There is only one mountain in the world where the tea gets harvested, and – to make it even rarer – it’s only harvested one day a year, and only with special golden scissors, and only from the top part of the tree.This tea is both as exclusive as, and as pretty as a piece of jewellery. What I mean is that they paint the tea leaves with real gold – 24 carats – and you’re seemingly supposed to consume that into your body. But don’t worry, apparently it’s not only non-toxic, it’s actually pretty healthy.

2. Panda dung tea – AUD 250/cup

   In the tea world they call the panda poo dung, but it’s really poo. So this Panda dung (poo) is the secret to this special tea, which has been reported to be sold for around $200 per cup. Why do people drink tea made of an animal’s poop? A few reasons, Panda’s only eat wild bamboo, and they only absorb around 30% of the nutrients in their food. That leaves 70% in their excrement (there are many ways of saying poo), which gets into the tea. Yes, it sounds gross – so don’t think about it when you’re gulping down this tea. Your body will love it!

   The tea is not actually made purely out of Panda dung, though. It’s just fertilized with it. A Chinese entrepreneur basically decided to cultivate tea leaves in the mountains of Ya’an, Sichuan and fertilize the leaves with the Panda dung. People loved the flavour, and paid him lots of money for it. Oh, China.
   

3. Da Hong Pao – AUD 1,555,210 /kg

   This tea is fabulous, in that it dates back as early as the 18th century (the Dao Guang Era FYI), and is still being talked about to this day. We’re actually talking about the best version of this tea – because there are a variety of options – but this one is the most expensive. So the Chinese government sold this tea in 1998 in an auction to the highest bidder, and received $900,000 for it. That comes out to around AUD1, 555, 210 per kilogram. This tea is more expensive than gold. I’d love to try it, really I would.

   What’s so special about this tea? A few Chinese government officials describe the tea as having a rich floral taste that lingers in the mouth, even several minutes after drinking. That’s pretty unique for a cup of tea.

   

4. Gyokuro – AUD 80 for 100 grams

   This tea is known as Sencha, which is a Japanese green tea that’s made without crushing the tea leaves. The leaves are really pampered – they’re shaded from the sun in the final two week before harvesting, which helps increase the amino acids in the leaves, giving them a sweeter flavour and distinctive aroma. This tea sells for about $80 AUD for 100grams, making it super expensive. Would you pay that much for tea?

   

5. Tieguanyin – AUD 3,732 / kg

   This is the motherload, the cherry on top, the big kahuna. Tieguanyin is the most expensive tea in the world, and, naturally, it comes from China. At the price of AUD 3,732 per kg, just thinking about this tea makes my heart beat faster.

   It’s named after a Buddhist deity called Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy). It’s an oolong tea, meaning its oxidization is somewhere between that of black and green teas. Luckily for anyone who buys this luxurious tea, a leaf can be brewed up to seven times before it loses its flavour, so I guess its bang-for-your-buck value is very high. So why is this tea so unique? It brings the five senses into play with every sip:

   – Sight: The liquid is a sparkling golden colour, and the leaves are thick and bright. Pretty!
   – Sound: The leaves are pressed before being put into cloth bags, making a pitch-perfect ringing sound when poured into your cup.
   – Smell: It has a distinct chestnut flavour when prepared, making it distinctive among Oolong teas.
   – Taste: The rich flavour of this tea fills the mouth and tongue when swirled in the mouth.
   – Touch: The tea leaves themselves are heavy and solid, crisp to the touch.