The 2024 list of the 10 most expensive teas in the world set a gold standard for refined and delicious drinks.
Some are served in the 10 best restaurants in the world, others within the privacy of one’s home.
But all are enjoyable nevertheless.
Tea is embedded in various cultures throughout history. It was regarded as one of the most popular beverages in the 21st century and people would consider it a medicinal drink owing to the plethora of benefits associated with it. Countries such as China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Korea, Turkey, and Taiwan are the major producers and suppliers of tea around the globe.
People who are connoisseurs of tea expect their tea to be nothing less than the best; to help them calm their nerves with its deep aroma. So if you happen to be a tea connoisseur and are in search of the most expensive tea from all across the world then get ready for the grand reveal that is about to happen.
1. Da-Hong Pao Tea, China (1.2 million USD per kilo)
Yes, you read that right. Da-Hong Pao tea does cost a whopping 1.2 million USD for a kilogram and it is rightly accredited as the most exorbitant tea in the world. This tea is collected from the Wuyi mountains in Fuji province, China from plants that are 300 years old.
It is so esteemed that it is given to honorable people, celebrities, and important individuals. Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, gifted 200 grams of Da-Hong Pao tea to US president Nixon on his official visit to China, as a symbol of peace and harmony between the two countries.
2. Diamond Tea Bag (15,000 USD/ Teabag)
Valued around $15,000 for one tea bag, the PG Tips Diamond Tea Bag is anything but ordinary! The bag contains expensive tea leaves of Silver Tips Imperial Tea but this isn’t the fancy part about it. The real deal is the packaging of the tea bag since each bag is handcrafted by Boodles Jewelry with 280 pieces of diamonds. This bespoke packaging was unveiled during the company’s 75th anniversary.
3. Panda Dung Tea, China (70,000 USD per kilo)
Panda Dung Tea is a premium quality tea that is tagged for approximately 70,000 USD for one kilo and is cultivated in the dung of Panda bears. This tea is rich in nutrients with antioxidant properties and is known to have innumerable health benefits. Panda Dung Tea is perfect to add warmth to your chilly days. It has a malty aroma and a nutty flavor and is grown in the Sichuan province in China.
4. Pu’erh Tea, China (10,000 USD per kilo)
This famous tea dates as far back as the 18th century and is considered one of the most ancient, and refined tea while also being one of the priciest teas in the world as it is worth 10,000 USD for a kilo.
Pu’erh tea is cultivated mostly in the Yunnan province of China and it is sold as a tea cake that has to be brewed to savor it. Also, it is known to help in reducing cholesterol levels, improving gut health, and weight management.
5. Narcissus Wuyi Oolong Tea (6,500 USD per kilo)
This tea has ancient origins as it dates back to 500 years and is named after Narcissus, the Greek legend. It is cultivated in Wuyi Mountains, in Fujian Province in China. This tea is famous for its rich chocolatey and wooden flavor coupled with a hint of fruit and floral touch accompanied by a very strong aroma. Once every two years this tea is fired to remove its moisture and retain its flavor.
6. Tieguanyin Tea, China (3,000 USD per kilo)
Tieguanyin Tea leaves are named after Guan Yin, a Buddhist deity, and are worth 3,000 USD for a kilo. The tea leaves are crisp and bright gold. It is famous for the Tieguanyin tea that takes seven rounds of brewing before the leaves lose their unbeatable chestnut flavor. It is grown in the Fujian province of China and is a rare type of tea which is why it is so costly.
7. Yellow gold tea buds, Singapore (3,000 USD per kilo)
Yellow gold tea buds are harvested once a year which makes them so rare and since they are speckled with 24-carat gold, it’s not surprising that they are valued at around 3,000 USD for a kilo. Being coated with gold flakes doesn’t make these tea leaves inedible; it is increasingly used for its numerous health benefits and its peculiar yet amazing metallic and floral taste. It is also known as the tea of the Emperors of China, however, currently, it is only sold in Singapore.
8. Gyokuro, Japan (650 USD per kilo)
Gyokuro which means ‘pearl dew’ is one of the most expensive and top-quality green teas, grown in the Uji district in Japan. The tea is grown in such a way that the leaves retain the amino acid L-theanine which enhances the umami flavors in the tea and to achieve this target, the plant is shielded from the sun two weeks before the harvest.
9. Silver Tips Imperial Tea, India (400 USD per kilo)
This tea is largely popular for its robust flavor and rich color. It is cultivated 5,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level in the heart of the Himalayas. The tea leaves are then transported to the Makaibari Tea Estate which is located in Darjeeling in India and is regarded as the first tea factory all across the globe.
Once at an auction in India in 2014, this tea was sold for $1,850 per kilo, ranking it as the most expensive tea in the region.
10. Tienchi Flower Tea, China (170 USD per kilo)
It is one of the most esteemed teas and expensive teas on the market due to its exotic flavor profile and healing properties. The Tienchi Flower Tea is grown in Yunnan province of China; once in three years. This tea has a sweet and minty taste and is known to boost oxygen levels and improve insomnia along with fighting inflammation and dodging infection from the body.
